585 S E R M N LXXVIIÍ. The Happinefs of God. I T r Al. I. II. The Bleffed God ò - - The whole Verle runs thus, According to the glorious Gofpel of the Blefed God, which was corn- mitted to my trufl. SI N CE all Men naturally delire Happinefs, and thirft after it ; methinks we fhould all delire to know what it is, and where it is to be found, and how it is to be attained by us, in that degree in which Creatures are ca- pable of it. What Sob lays of Wfdom, may be Paid alto of Happinefs, God un- der/landeth the way thereof, andhe knoweth theplace thereof. He only, who is per- fed-1y poffeft of it himfelf, knows wherein it confi(ts, and what are the true in- gredients of it. ,co that to dire us in our fearch after Happinefs, the belt way will be to Con- template and Confider the Divine Nature, which is the perfe& Pattern and Idea of Happinefs, and the Original Springand Fountain of all the Felicity that Crea- tures are capable of. And to that end, I have pitched upon thefe Words, where- in the Apoftle attributes this Perfeétion of Blefednefs or Happinefs to God, the BlefedGod. And tho' this be as effential a part as any other of that Notion whichMan- kind have of God from the Light of Nature, yet I no where find in all the New Teftament, this Attribute of Happinefs given to God, but only twice in this Epi- file. 'Tis true indeed, the Title of Blefednefs is frequently given both to God and Chrift, but in another Senfe, and in a quite different Notion: As Mark 14. 61. where the High-Prieft asks our Saviour, Art thou the Chrift, the Son of the Bleffed ? iv? oyr1ís, of him that is to k CelebratedandPraifed ; and z Cor. a a. 31 The Godand Father of our Lord 7efus ,Chrift, who is blefd for evermore. So likewife, Rom. a. zs. The Creator bleJfed for evermore : Which likewife is Paid of Chrift, Rom. 9. S. Of whom Chilli came, who is over all, Godbidedfor evermore; that is, for ever to be praifed and celebrated. But in all thefe Texts the Greek Word is iuXoyri1èç, which tho' we Tranflate Blefed, yet it is a quite different No- tion from the Title of Ble/J'ednefs which is given to God in the Text, where the Word is not iuha)4174, but ,u.a-soLpa, the Blefed, or the Happy God ; and this Ti- tle is not any where in all the NewTeftament, (that I know of) given to God, but here in the Text, and Chap. 6. v. 15. where our Lord Jefus Chrift (who alfo is God) is called the Blefedand the only Potentate. And whether this Title of theBided or the happy God, be here in the Text given to God the Father, or to his Eternal Son, our Lord Jefus Chrift ; is not fomuch material to my prefent purpofe to enquire. For, fuppofe it be Chrift who is here 'cad the NerdGod; this however is certain, that Blefednefs or Happinefs is a Title belonging to God, which is all that is neceffary for a Foundation of my prefent Difcourfe. In fpeaking of this Argument, I fhall do thefe three Things. I. Show what we are to underftand by the Happinefs of God, and what are the effential Ingredients of it. II. That this Titledoth belong to God, and that the Divine Nature is perfect- ly bleffed and happy. III. How far Creatures are capable of.Happinefs, and by what Ways and Means they may be made partakers of it : And fhall then make Tome Inferences from my Difcourfe upon this Argument. Ffff I. i { 7
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