Setni.LXXVIII. The Happinefs ofGod, i For there is a certain Temper and Difpofition, of. Mind, that is neceffary. and éffential to Happinefs, and that is Holinefs and Goodnefs, which is the Nature of God ; and fo much as any Perlon departs from this Temper, fo far he removes himfelf, ánd :'runs away from :Happinefs : - And as Sin is a departure from God, fo the Punifhment of it is hkewife-exprefied by departing from him ; Depart fromme ÿeCurfed ; depart fromme allye that work Iniquity, I knowyou not. And this is one great part of the Miferyofthofe degenerate and accutfed Spi- rits, the Devils, who are for ever banifh'd from the Pretence of God, that they are of a Temper quite contrary to. God, Wicked and Impure, Envious and Ma- licious, Mifchievous and Cruel ; and fuck a Temper is naturally a torment and difquiet to it felf. And here the Foundation of Hell is laid in the evil difpofition of our Minds ; and till this be cur'd, and fet right, it is as impoflible for any of us to be happy,. as it is for a Limb that is out of Joynt to be at eafe. And the external prefence of God, and a local Heaven (ifwe could imagine fuch a Perlon to be admitted into it, and fee all the Glories of that place, and the Pleafures and Delights of that hate) all this, I fay, would liignifie no more to make a bad Man happy, than heaps of Gold and Diamonds, and Conforts of the molt deli- cious Mufick, and a well - fpread Table, and a rich and softly Bed would contri- bute to a Man's Eafe in the paroxyfm of aFever, or in a violent fit of the Stone; becaufe the Manhath that within which torments him, and till that be removed, he cannot poffiblybe at eafe. The Man's Spirit is out of order, and off the Hinges, and toft from its Centre, and till that be fet right, and reftor'd to its proper place and Rate by Goodnefs and Holinefs, the Man will be perpetually . reftiefs, and cannot poffibly have any Eafe or Peace in his Mind : For how can there be Peace, how can there bè Happinefs tohim, who is of a Temper direétly oppoute to it ? The Wicked, faith the Prophet, Ifa. S7. zo, ar. is like the trou- bled Sea when it cannot ref?, whole Waters raft up Mire and Dirt. So long as there is impurity in our Hearts, and guilt upon our Confciences, they will be reftlefly working ; there is nopeace faith my God to the Wicked. The Hebrew Wordwhich we tranflate Peace, ftgnifies all kind ofhappinef ; there can be nofelicity to a bad Man. The confideration whereof fhould put us updn the molt ferious and ear- neft endeavours to be like God, that we may be capable of his Favour, and par- takers of his Felicity. The Divine Nature is the only perfeet Idea of Happinefs, and nothing but our conformity to it can make us happy. I have been fo long upon this Argument, on purpofe to convince Men of the Neceflity of -Holinefs and Goodnefs, and all other Virtues, tò our prefent and fu- trite Happinefs. They underhand not the nature of Happinefs, who hope for it, or imagine they can attain it in any other way. The Author and the Fountain of 'Happinefs, he that made us, and alone can make us happy, cannot makeus to in any other way, than by planting in us fuch a difpofition of Mind, as is in Truth a participation of the Divine Nature, and by endowingus with fuch Quali- ties as are the neceflàry Materials and Ingredients of Happinefs. There is no way to partake' of the Felicity of God bleffed for ever, but by becoming Holy and Righteous, Good and Merciful as he is. All Men naturally elefire Happinefs, and leek after ir, and are as they think travelling towards it, but generally they miftake their way. Many are eager in the purfuit of theThings ofthis World, and greedily catch at Pleafures and Riches and. Honour, as if theft could make them happy ; but when they come to em- brace them, they find that they are but Cloudsand Shadows, and that there is no real and fubftantial felicity in them. Manyfay, who will thew us anygood t meaning the good things of this World, Corn, and Wine, and Oil : But wouldeft thou be happy indeed ? endeavour to be like thePattern of Happinefs, and the Fountain of it ;. Addrefs thy -felf to him in the Prayer of the Pfálmif, Lord lift thou up upon me the light of thy Countenance, and thou ¡halt put more joy andgladnefs into my heart, than the Men of the World can have, when their Corn and their Wine increafeth. Many fay, to here, and lo there! That Happinefs is in a great Plate, or ina plen- - tiful Elate, or in the enjoyment of fenfual Pleafures and Delights; but believe their
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