A Persuasive to a Holy Life, Tract · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. What Happineſs is.
HAppineſs in general may be defined to be the ſecure and conſtant preſence and enjoyment of whatſoever is really good, deſirable and delightful; together with the abſence of whatever is afflictive and tormenting.
It is deſcribed by Boetius, to be Status omnium bonorum aggregatione perfectus: An Eſtate perfect by the confluence of all good things. And by Cicero, Secretis malis omnibus cumulate bonorum poſſeſſio: An accumulated poſſeſſion of good things, all evil things being withdrawn. The holy Pſalmiſt himſelf makes the happineſs of the Beatifick Viſion to conſiſt in fulneſs of Joy, and Eternal Pleaſures, Pſal. 17. ult. In thy preſence there is fulneſs of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleaſures for evermore. And by our Bleſſed Saviour the happineſs of Heaven is called the joy of the Lord, Matth. 25. 21 and 23.
Happineſs is uſually diſtinguiſhed into Objective and Formal.
Objective Happineſs is that Object or thing which renders us happy.
Formal Happineſs is the union with, or enjoyment of that Object.
The ſupreme Objective Happineſs of Man, his chief good, or laſt end, is the ever bleſſed Deity.
His Formal Happineſs is the enjoyment of the Object, which conſiſts in the knowledge and love of God, and that joy and delectation which naturally and neceſſarily flows therefrom; John 17.3. And this is Life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt, wh…m thou haſt ſent.
You will ſay, If the happineſs of Man conſiſts in the love of God, how can holineſs of life be ſaid to render a Man happy?
I anſwer, Becauſe holineſs or obedience to the Commandments of God, is in effect the ſame thing with the love of God. By the Apoſtle John it is made to be the very ſame, 1 John 5.3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his C…mmandments. And Galat. 5.3. Love is ſaid to …e the fu…filli…g of the Law. Dr. Hammond in his Note upon John 14.15. obſerves, that the Notion of loving God in Scripture, but eſpecially in the New Teſtament, ſeems moſt fitly to be taken from one moſt eminent Act and Expreſſion of Love amongſt all Men; that is, doing thoſe things which are moſt grateful and acceptable to the beloved. Now our only way of doing things grateful to God, is our performing what he commands; and therefore it is conſequent, that our obedience to the Will or Commands of God, in the higheſt and moſt perfect manner, is ſtiled the loving of him; being indeed the prime, if not only way of demonſtrating our love to him, John 14.21. He that hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and ver. 23. If any man love me, he will keep my word: and 1 John 2.5. He that keeps his word, in him is the love of God made perfect, &c. Another Notion there is of the love of God, viz, a deſire of union and near conjunction with him; but this but ſeldom lookt upon in the Scriptures. Thus far Dr. Hammond.
Love is by ſome Divines diſtinguiſhed into Appreciative and Senſible, or rather Paſſionate.
Appreciative Love is ſuch an affection, whereby we prize or value any one Object above another.
Senſible or Paſſionate Love is that which hath a greater influence upon the Body, and doth more ſtrongly move and affect it.
Our Love to God in this ſtate is of the firſt kind, ſuch an affection or diſpoſition of Soul, whereby we prize him above all things; ſo that neither Father nor Mother, nor Wife, nor Child, though they may more ſenſibly and paſſionately affect us, are ſo much eſteemed by us, we can be content to part with them when God pleaſes, and quietly to ſubmit to his Will. No Worldly advantage, much leſs the gratifying any Luſt, can prevail with us to break any one of his Commandments.