_The happiness of a life wholly devoted unto God, farther proved, from the |vanity|, and the |ridiculous|, |poor| enjoyments which they are forced to take up with, who live according to their own humours. This represented in various characters._
1. WE may see yet more of the happiness of a life devoted to God, by considering the poor contrivances for happiness, and the contemptible ways of life, which they are thrown into, who are seeking after happiness by other methods.
If one looks at their lives, who live by no rule but their own humours and fancies; if one sees what it is, which they call _joy_, and _greatness_, and _happiness_; if one sees how they rejoice and repent, change and fly from one delusion to another, one shall find great reason to rejoice, that God hath appointed a _narrow_ way that leadeth unto life, and that we are not left to the folly of our own minds, or forced to take up with such shadows of happiness, as the folly of the world has invented. I say _invented_, because those things which make up the _joy and happiness_ of the world, are mere _inventions_, which have no foundation in nature, are no way the proper good or happiness of man, no way perfect either his body or his mind.
2. *As, for instance, when a man proposes to be happy in ways of _ambition_, by raising himself to some _imaginary heights_ above other people. This is an _invention_ of happiness which has no foundation in nature, but it is as mere a cheat of our own making, as if a man should intend to make himself happy by _climbing_ up a _ladder_.
*If a _woman_ seeks for happiness from _fine colours_ or _spots_ upon _her face_, from _jewels_ and _rich cloaths_, this is as merely an _invention_ of happiness, as contrary to _nature_ and _reason_, as if she should propose to make herself happy, by painting a _post_, and putting the same finery upon it. It is in this respect that I call these mere _inventions_ of happiness, because neither God, nor nature, nor reason, hath appointed them as such; but whatever appears joyful or happy in them, is entirely invented by the blindness and vanity of our own minds.
And it is on these inventions of happiness, that I desire you to cast your eye, that you may thence learn how _great a good_ religion is, which delivers you from such a multitude of follies, and vain pursuits, as are the torment of minds that wander from their true happiness in God.
3. *Look at _Flatus_, and learn how miserable they are, who are left to the folly of their own passions.
_Flatus_ is rich and in health, yet always uneasy, and always searching after happiness. Every time you visit him, you find some new project in his head; he is eager upon it as something that is more worth his while, and will do more for him, than any thing that is already past. Every new thing so seizes him, that if you was to take him from it, he would think himself quite undone. His sanguine temper, and strong passions, promise him so much happiness in every thing, that he is always cheated, and is satisfied with nothing.
At his first setting out in life, _fine cloaths_ was his delight. His enquiry was only after the best _taylors_ and _peruke-makers_; and he had no thoughts of excelling in any thing but _dress_. He spared no expence, but carried every nicety to its greatest height. But this happiness not answering his expectations, he left off his _brocades_, put on a plain coat, railed at _fops_ and _beaux_, and gave himself up to _gaming_ with great eagerness.
This new pleasure satisfied him for some time; he envied no other way of life. But being by the fate of _play_, drawn into a _duel_, where he narrowly escaped his death, he left off the _dice_, and sought for happiness no longer amongst the _gamesters_.
4. The next thing that seized his wandering imagination, was the diversions of the _town_; and for more than a twelvemonth, you heard him talk of nothing but _ladies_, _drawing-rooms_, _birth-nights_, _plays_, _balls_, and _assemblies_; but growing sick of these, he had recourse to hard _drinking_. He had now many a merry night, and met with stronger joys than any he had felt before. And here he had thoughts of setting up his staff, and looking out no farther; but unluckily falling into a _fever_, he grew angry at all strong liquors, and took his leave of the happiness of being drunk.