The Sinfulness of Evil Thoughts, Treatise · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIIII. Of Good Deſires.
THE Deſires do as much diſcover the heart and thoughts as any thing elſe. And becauſe oft Hypocrites are apt to ſhroud themſelves under this pretence of their good hearts, becauſe of ſome good deſires, and to think themſelves to be much better then they are; The wicked boaſteth of his hearts deſire, and the covetous bleſſeth himſelf (in Pſal. 10. 3.this reſpect) when the Lord abhorreth him; And on the other ſide, godly ones, not taking notice how much good is in a right good deſire, think themſelves worſe then they are. I ſhall take a little paines,
1. For the incouraging of the one, to tell him how much good is in a good deſire.
2. For the undeceiving of the other, to tell him, what deſires are good, and when. And the firſt I ſhall lay down in Eight Concluſions.
1. There is ſo much good in good deſires, that it is almoſt all the godly have to ſpeak and reckon of. Make an Inventory of a Chriſtians State, and ſearch every room, if you find not theſe, you find nothing, and if you ſet theſe down, you ſet down all he is worth, Inprimis, In his heart a few good deſires.
Item. In his beſt duties, and prayers, a few good deſires.
Item. In all his acts, dealings, and whole life, a few good, pious, and honeſt deſires.
Laſtly, the Summatotalis is, ſo many good deſires; Hence the godly have oft mentioned their deſires, Eſa. 26. 8, 9. They are mentioned twice, as if they had nothing elſe to ſet down, Nehem. 1. 11. Pſalm. 38. 9. As Daniel was called, a man of deſires, ſo may Dan. 10. 11.every Chriſtian, being wholy made up of good deſires.
2. Of theſe God taketh ſpeciall notice, he Pſal. 10. 17. 1 King 8. 18. Cant. 1. 6. and 4. 7.heareth the deſire of the humble; he ſaith, in as much as it was in thy heart, it was well; when we ſay, I am black, he ſaith, thou art all fair, thou haſt good and fair deſires. As the new wine is found in the cluſter and one ſaith, deſtroy it not, there is a bleſſing in it, ſo will I do for my ſervants ſakes, that I may not deſtroy them Eſa. 65. 8.all; in the cluſter of good deſires there is a great deal of good new wine put into the bottle of the new heart; And God will not have one good deſire deſtroyed, but hath a bleſſing in ſtore for it.
3. Theſe, if the heart could be lookt into, & be ript open, do ſhew better what is there of grace or ſin, then any thing elſe. A wicked man is better known by his deſires then words or deeds, he may keep in ill words, forbear evil acts, is never free from ill deſires. Neither he nor Satan do alwaies tempt, ly, ſteal, murder, commit adultery, but doſt thou deſire? So many ſinful deſires ſo many ſins, a man may be guilty but of one act of murder or adultery, ye… be a thouſand times a murderer, or adulterer, becauſe of ſo many ſuch deſires; Pharaoh had ſlain Moſes, Haman Mordecai, Saul David, Amnon had raviſhed Tamar long before, if they could have had their deſires: God doth ſet them down ſo many times a murderer, inceſtuous, &c. So is the godly man meaſured by his deſires: Doſt thou deſire to pray, repent, believe, mortify ſin, honour God, benefit his Church? This is to have done ſo much as thou deſireſt, yea the godly is a thouſand times better in his deſires, then he can be any other way; He aimes at the mark in his deſires, though he ſhoot ſtill ſhort or wide; By his good will he would have every duty performed perfectly, every ſin deſtroyed, might he have his will, had his ſins all one neck, as Caligula wiſhed of the Romane Senators, he would give the blow, and he makes that vow that Iſrael did, Num. 21. 2, 3. If the Lord will deliver theſe Canaanites into his hand, he will deſtroy them utterly, and call that day, Hormah, that is, utter deſtruction.
4. Good deſires are ever the firſt preparations unto grace, to let it in: As the day comes in by the breaking of the cloudes, ſo grace by the breaking of good deſires, Pſal. 10. 17. Thou heareſt the deſire, thou prepareſt the heart.
5. They are not the preparations onelyonly for, but the firſt buds and bloſsomes of grace. The firſt beginning of grace, and the appearance of it is ſeen in the change of the deſires; as the woman conceived with child, yet knows not whether ſhe be with child or no, but ſhe obſerves there is a change in her, ſomewhat is the matter, ſhe hath leſs ſtomack to former diet, ſhe long's and deſires that which formerly ſhe cared not for, and never thought off; So the godly, now begin to loath ſin, and to deſire grace.
6. Yea further, Theſe are the very life and ſoul of grace, as the flame is of the fire, as natural life is preſerved in the appetitive faculty, it begins and ends with it, ſo ſpirituall life in the ſpirituall appetite and concupiſcence. Gal. 5. 17. The ſpirit luſteth againſt the fleſh, and the fleſh againſt the ſpirit. The life of ſin is preſerved not in the continuall acts of ſin, but in the continuall love of it; So life of grace not alwaies continued in the apparent acts and exerciſes of it, but in the deſires after it.
7. To go yet higher, Theſe are the very perfection, and the higheſt pitch of grace on earth. Divines ſpeak of many perfections here on earth.
1. Of parts, not degrees.
2. Comparative, not abſolute.
3. Inchoated, not attained. Poor perfections all, God knowes.
But the 4th. Of deſires, is above them all, Parts, Comparative, Inchoated, fall ſhort as Caro concupiſci…a …verſus ſpiritum & ſpiritus adverſus carnem, &c. ut …on quod volumus facimus. Quare quia ve…mus ut nul. lae amnino ſint concupiſentiae, ſed non paſſumus, Aug.well as Degrees, abſolute, attained; but deſires riſe higher. My duties, parts, graces, are imperfect, ſaith the godly ſoul, my deſires are perfect; duties low, deſires high; duties ſmoak, deſires flame; my duties creep of all four and cannot go, my deſires have four wings, like that creature Dan. 7. 6. that had four feet, and four wings; my performances do but creep and leave me on the ground, my deſires are winged and carry me up to heaven.
Yea higher yet, what will you ſay, if we tell you deſires are the beſt perfection of heaven, where there is nothing of imperfection, and that not onelyonly among the ſpirits of juſt men now made perfect, but among the Angels themſelves, who were never leſſe then perfect? There are many perfections in heaven, of degrees, abſolute, compleat; There is perfection of knowledge, love, joy, peace, of all grace and glory, all perfections; Yet I may ſafely ſay, this of deſires is above all the reſt. The holieſt Saint and higheſt Angel, even when they do love, adore, and magnifie God, do cover their faces, becauſe they fall ſhort of his perfections, ſuch is their imperfection, (not their ſin, the imperfection of their nature, not of their ſtate) Gods infinite perfections, being not to be reached with any meaſure of finite graces; OnelyOnly deſires come in to help out all, theſe riſe up higher, and ſtrive to reach Gods higheſt praiſes, and to give him the full of his perfections; ſo that where tongues and prophecy, and faith, and love it ſelf ceaſe or fall ſhort, deſires carry all before them.
8. Laſtly, Theſe deſires, as they are the firſt and higheſt of graces, ſo they are the laſt and loweſt, and the ſtanding diſh of grace, and ſhews the minimum quid ſic of a Chriſtian, when nothing elſe is to be found. While life remaines deſires continue, when deſire ceaſeth, nature is ſpent, the man is dead or dying, Eccieſ. 12. 5. All that the poor ſoul hath to ſay for it ſelf, ſomtimes is this, Pſal. 38. 9. Lord thou knoweſt all my deſire, my groaning is not hid from thee. Rom. 7. 18. To will is preſent, my deſire ceaſeth not, yet, to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. Eſa. 26. 8. I will look ſtill after thee, and toward thy holy Temple, though I am caſt out of ſight, and all thy waves and billowes have gone over me, Jonah 2. 4. I cry out as my dying, expiring Saviour, I thirſt. I ſtretch out my hands unto thee, my ſoul thirſteth for thee as the thirſty land, hear me ſpeedily; O Lord, my ſpirit faileth, hide not thy face leaſt I be like to them that Pſal. 143. 6.go down into the pit. I pant, Pſal. 42. 1. I long, Pſal. 63. 1. I faint, Pſal. 84. 2. All is well. The fire is not out while there is a ſpark, grace is not dead while there is one deſire left. Ly down again Samuel, the lamp of God is not yet gone out. The Lord may call 1 Sam. 3. 3. …thee yet, and come to thee again and again; what is there in hungering and thirſting, poverty of ſpirit and mourning, more then a few deſires, yet all thoſe are called bleſſed, yea and they ſhall be bleſſed.
Will you hear what other eminent and ex…erienced Divines have ſaid in this caſe, to the comfort of poor ſouls, and thoſe that are loweſt and leaſt in the Kingdom of God? Mr. Perkins ſaith, The deſire to believe in the In his grain of muſtard ſeed.want of faith is faith: Though as yet there want firm and lively grace, yet art thou not altogether void of grace, if thou canſt deſire it, thy deſire is the ſeed, conception, or bud of what thou wanteſt. Now is the ſpring time of the inguafted word or immortall ſeed, caſt into the furrows of thy heart. Wait but a while, uſing the meanes and thou ſhalt ſee that leaves, bloſſoms, and fruits will ſhortly follow. Auſtin ſaith, Let thy deſires be before God, and he which ſeeth in In Pſal. 36.ſecret ſhall reward thee openly; Thy deſire is thy prayer, and if thy deſire be continuall, thy prayer is continuall. In another place: The In Expoſ. Epist. Joh. tract. 4.whole life of a Chriſtian is an holy will and deſire. Luther ſaith, The more we feel our unworthyneſſe, and the leſſe we find the promiſes belong to us, the more we muſt deſire them, being aſſured this deſire doth greatly pleaſe God, who deſireth and willeth, that his grace ſhould be earneſtly deſired. Beza ſaith, If thou find not thy heart touched inwardly, pray that it may be Reſp. ad act. Col. Monpil.touched, for then mayſt thou know that this deſire is a pledge of the fathers good will towards thee. Chemnitius ſaith, When I have a good deſire, though it ſcarcely ſheweth it ſelf in ſome little and ſlender ſigh, I muſt be aſſured the ſpirit of God is preſent, and worketh his good work. Ur ſin ſaid, Faith in the moſt holy is not perfect, Lo. Com.nevertheleſſe whoſoever feels in his heart an earneſt deſire to believe, and a ſtriving againſt his doubts, both may, and muſt aſſure himſelf, that he is indued with true faith. Holy Bradford to Mr. Jo. Careleſſe, Thy ſins are undoubtedly pardoned, &c. for God hath given thee a penitent and believing heart, that is, an heart which deſireth to repent and believe, for ſuch a one is taken of him (he accepting the will for the deed) for a penitent and believing heart indeed. Famous Knox, Albeit ſometimes thy pain be ſo horrible, that you find no releaſe or comfort neither in ſpirit nor body, yet if thy heart can onelyonly ſob unto God, deſpair not, you ſhall obtain your hearts deſire. Many more ſuch like expreſſions we might produce, out of our later Writers, but theſe may ſuff…ce.
2. For the other thing, to know when deſires are good, I ſhall lay down four Rules, to know it by.
Rule 1. Deſires are then good when the Object of them is good. The Object of good deſires is manifold.
1. The firſt and principall Object of our Te nontua, non te propter tua ſed te propter te, tua poſt te, propter te.beſt deſires is God himſelf, not his but himſelf, Eſa. 26. 9. With my ſoul have I deſired thee. To deſire the things of God, every one doth; his bleſſings the worldling; his ſalvation the prophaneſt; his gifts, graces, favour, the hypocrite, himſelf for himſelf, above all riches, grace, life; heaven it ſelf is onelyonly the deſire of the truly Godly. Oh how like an Angel did he ſing, that ſaid, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and what do I deſire in earth in compariſon of thee. Few of us that ſing that Pſalm Pſal. 73. 25.with our underſtanding, can ſay, I ſing thus in my ſpirit and underſtanding alſo.
2. Next to God bleſſed for ever, Jeſus Chriſt the delight of God, is to be the deſire of our eyes; He is called the deſire of the nations, Hag. 2. 7. The Church can ſay, I am my beloveds, and my deſire is towards him, as well as my beloved is mine, and his deſire is towards me, Cant. 7. 10.
3. Covenant relation to God through Chriſt, This next to God and Chriſt to be deſired. Thus dying David ſaid; He hath made with me an everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things and ſure, for this is all my ſalvation and all my deſire, 2 Sam. 23. 5.
4. Spirituall gifts, 1 Cor. 14. 1. and ſaving grace much more which flow from the Covenant, Neh. 1. 11. for though all gifts Gratis data non gratum faciunt.are of grace, freely given, yet they are no… alwayes given with grace to ſanctify.
5. The Ordinances are to be deſired, Pſal. 26. 8. 84. 1, 2. The Word, Acts 13. 7. 1 Pet. 2. 2. The Sacrament, Luk. 22. 15. Thus did Chriſt himſelf. What manner of Chriſtians then are they, that have no delight in the Word, and that ſay of the Table of the Lord, it is contemptible?Jer. 6. 10. Mal. 1. 7.
6. Much more Communion with God in Ordinances, elſe they are but dry, empty and unſavoury meat, Pſ. 27. 3, 4. 84. 1, 2, 3. What is the Sun-dyal good for, if the ſun ſhine not on it? And what are Ordinances worth, if Chriſt ſhine not on them? They are the ſtar to lead to Chriſt, but it is Chriſt, not the ſtar, which is to be worſhipped.
7. Communion and ſpirituall converſe with the people of God, next to Communion with God, 1 Theſ. 2. 17.
8. Emploiment in gods ſervice is much to be deſired, if our ſelves or any of our children be capable of it, as Hannah for her ſon Samuel. So Deut. 18. 6. If the Levite came from any of the Villages to the Sanctuary, with the whole deſire of his ſoul to officiate in a more comfortable and ſerviceable manner, he was to be encouraged. So the Apoſtle ſaith, If any deſire the office, the employment (not the honour, and dignity of a Biſhop, or faithfull Paſtor) he deſireth a good work. 1 Tim. 3. 1.
9. Succeſſe and fruit in our imployment, for the good of others ſouls, Phil. 4. 17. The Miniſter ſhould deſire that his people may be the great gainers, and he the great layer out and ſpender, ſpending and being ſpent, as the Apoſtle ſaith; that they may have much 2 Cor. 12. 15.more of ſpirituals from him, then he hath of carnals from them.
10. Eternal ſalvation at the laſt, in the full and immediate fruition of Chriſt, Phil. 1. 23. Having a deſire to be diſſolved and to be with C…r…ſt which is far better
11. The ſalvation of others, thoſe eſpecially committed to us, that we may ſave our ſelves and them that hear us. That ſalvation by our means may come to our houſe, to a 1 Tim. 4. 16.Town, Nation, Country, Rom. 10. 1. Col. 1. 9. We deſire that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wiſdome and ſpirituall underſtanding. And verſ. 28. 29. We warn and teach every man that we may preſent every man perfect in Chriſt Jeſus, whereunto I alſo labour ſtriving according to his working which worketh in me mightily. If we make ſuch prayers, have ſuch deſires, uſe ſuch endeavours, and ſtrive ſo mightily for the ſalvation of others, we may ſay, we have good deſires.
Thus we ſee the firſt rule opened; Deſires are good when the object is good, when we deſire God firſt, then Jeſus Chriſt, then Covenant relation, then gifts and graces, then ordinances, and communion with God in ordinances, then communion with the people of God, Employment above all employments in Gods ſervice, to be neer to him, ſucceſſe and fruit in ſuch employments, after all, our own ſalvation, and next to our own the ſalvation of ot… men, then are our deſires good.
Rule 2. Good deſires are then good, when they flow from a right root or ſpring, And this is ſixfold.
1. When they ariſe from ſenſe of want. Appetitus eſt ratione …a…ent ….Thus Adams deſire of clothes was not good, for he wanted them not when created pure, but he deſired them as he pretended to cover his nakedneſſe, ſo are all the deſires after good things in wicked men, onelyonly to cover their nakedneſſe and ſave them from Gods wrath, not for the worth of the things themſelve…; The godly man ſees a pure want and need of God, of Chriſt, of the Covenant of grace, and gifts and Ordinances, and communion with God and the Saints; therefore deſires them, as the naturall man deſires meat, drink, reſt and ſleep, out of ſenſe of the want of them.
2. When they ariſe from the apprehenſion Ratione bonitatis; omnia app… tunt bonum.of the good that is in the things deſired, what ſo good as thoſe forenamed objects? In them conſiſts the ſouls preſent good and happineſſe, and his ſummum bonum to all Eternity.
3. When we ſee a ſuitable goodneſſe in Ratione conv… nt…ntiae.them to our nature and condition, as the ox deſireth graſſe, the infant milk, ſo the godly man knowes theſe are moſt ſuitable to the rationall and intellectuall creatures, eſpecially to the new creature.
4. When we expect ſatisfaction and felicity Ratione ſatisfactionis.in them. Thus the deſire granted is a tree of life, Prov. 13. 12. therefore doth the godly deſire thoſe forenamed, and faith, Lord what wait I for? truly my expectation is from thee, of ſatisfaction, Pſal. 39. 7. and 62. 1. 63. 3. and 73. 25.Ratione electionis.
5. When out of choice not neceſſity, thus the hungry perſon deſireth meat, not gold; ſo the godly grace, not riches, as preferring them in his choice, becauſe beſt.
6. This deſire is out of Election, and this Ratione dilectio…is.election and deſire is out of love. Oh how do I love the Lord! do I love Chriſt! do I love thy Law! thy Word! thy graces! faith the believing ſoul, therefore do I deſire them.
By theſe ſix Notes all the good deſires of wicked men are found bad. They ſee no ſuch want of God, and Chriſt, and Grace, they ſee no ſuch excellency in them, ſee no ſuch ſuitableneſſe between them and themſelves, expect no ſuch ſatisfaction in them, much leſſe do they out of choice and love deſire them, but out of neceſſity and conſtraint; God and grace, and heaven are little beholding to them; But as the ſick man takes phyſick, or the maimed man cuts off an arm rather then dy, or as the Merchant in the ſtorm caſts his goods overboard, he had as lieve dy almoſt, but it is becauſe there is no other way, no remedy but periſh elſe.
…ule 3. Good deſires are then good, when they have the right ſhape and ſtamp of their due properties and effects.
1. The firſt property of good deſires, is when they are ſincere, all the other properties which follow are nothing without this.
Sincerity is the native and primitive goodneſſe of every good. Faith is not Faith, if not ſincere, not is love, repentance, or obedience good, if not ſincere. Therefore the Scripture cals good deſires, the deſires of the ſoul, Eſa. 26. 8, 9. The whole deſire, 2 Chron. 15. 15. all the deſire of his mind, Deut. 18. 6. hearts deſire, Rom. 10. 1. To ſet out their ſincerity.
2. Though ſincerity be the firſt and beſt property, yet not the ſole, but the more of thoſe that follow the better ſtill, whereof the next is that good deſires be conſtant, and frequent; With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, with my ſpirit will I ſeek thee early. Eſa. 26. 8, 9.When they are day and night, early and late, ever and anon, then are they good; So Pſal. 27. 4. One thing have I deſired, and I will yet ſeek after it, &c. I have deſired, I do, and will do it. This is right, not the wandring deſire, Eccl. 6. 9. but the fixed, renewed and conſtant deſire, as of the young child to the breſt, 1 Pet. 2. 2. It is ever ſucking, cries for the breſt, ſleeps with it, wakes and cals for it; or as a healthfull man deſires his meat daily, two or three times a day, and can't live without it; not as a ſick man, or longing woman, who long for this or that, and once ſerves their turn, they long no more; This is a diſeaſed not healthfull deſire: Such were in Pharaoh and Ahab, ſuch hell is full of. Many deſire good prayers, and read Scriptures or good books, indiſtreſſe, never elſe, as the ſick man deſires a Cordiall or ſtrong water, and never drinks more till another qualm takes him. They are ſick and then they cry or howl on their beds, they get up and return again to ſin. The Hoſ 7. 14.Mariner in a ſtorm puts into a Port, when the ſtorm is over he meanes to go to ſea again. And the Traveller puts under the Pear-tree in a ſhower to keep him dry, when the rain is over he is flinging at it. Theſe are killing deſires, ſuch you read of Prov. 21. 25. the ſluggards and the unconſtant mans are ſo. But when we ſay of good, as the Lord of Sion, I have choſen …ion for an habitation, I have longed for it, here will I dwell becauſe I have deſired it, Pſal. 132. 13, 14. Theſe are good deſires.
3. When ardent and vehement, 2 Chron. The word foreign and foreign often uſed in Scrip. ſignifie a moſt vehement deſire and long…ng in the mind, as Phil. 1. 8. 23. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 2. 7. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 2.15. 15. cal'd the whole deſire, Gen. 31. 30. Luk. 22. 15. Deſiring with deſire. The mind is altogether deſires, the deſires are altogether vehement. So 2 Cor. 7. 11.
4. When they are large, increaſing, and unſatisfied. Three things are never ſatisfied, the eye the ear, the deſire; The covetous eye with ſeeing, the curious or itching ear with hearing, and the gracious heart with deſiring. But as the wicked mans deſires are enlarged as hell, Hab. 2. 5. Epheſ. 2. 3. So the godly mans are as large as heaven; That all heaven muſt be ours, ere the deſire is ſatisfied. That the ſoul is ſaid to ly panting, hungting, thirſting, longing, coveting, craving. Pſal. 42. 1. 63. 1. 2. 73. 25. 1 Cor. 14. 1.
5. Laborious deſires are good deſires, Prov. 18. 1. Through deſire a man having ſeparated himſelf, ſeeks and intermeddles in all wiſdome, heart and hand go together, as a ſcholar deſirous of learning, ſhuts up himſelf in his ſtudy, lets none come at him, is ſtill at his book early and late; or the worldling riſeth, runs, goes, ſweats, toyles to get riches, or the wicked man with cords and cart-ropes, Eſa. 5. 18. draweth ſin with both hands, Micha 7. 3. So doth the godly ſeek grace as ſilver and lifts up his voice for wiſdome, as for the greateſt treaſure. Working deſires not wiſhing are ſaving deſires. But alas what violence do the Kingdomes, yea cottages of the earth ſuffer, and what contempt heaven? Men will give twenty years purchaſe for earth, not ſeaven for heaven, yea many take more pains and are at a greater expence for hell, then many a well-meaning man for heaven.
6. When invincible and irreſiſtible.
1. As not to be quenched or quelled with difficulties, but as Shechem deſired Dinah, Gen. 34. 11.let me have her, ſaid he, what ever it coſt, what ever I ſuffer, I love her, muſt have her, will not go, without her, ſo Cant. 8. 7. Divine love is not to be quenched with any waters of difficulty or diſcouragement.
2. Nor to be taken off by any diverſion, as Hadad when he wanted no honour or preferment in the Egyptian Court, yet ſaid, Howbeit in any wiſe let me go home, 1 King. 11. 22. The man is where his deſires are, and if the deſires hang homeward, a Kingdom cannot ſtay him; and if they hang heavenward, all the world will not content him. But he ſaith with the Apoſtle in another caſe,We being ſtaid for a ſhort time in preſence, 1. Theſ. 2. 17.not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly with great deſire to come unto you; Speaking of his love to the Godly beleevers. But much more out of his love to Chriſt he ſaith, 2 Cor. 5. 2, 3, &c. In this we groan earneſtly, deſiring to be clothed upon with our houſe which is from heaven, if ſo be that being clothed, we ſhall not be found naked. Yea knowing while we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord, we groan and are burdened, willing rather to be abſent from the body, and to be preſent with the Lord, So Ruth 1. 16. 17.
7. Whenas they are not to be overcome themſelves, but overcome, conquer and triumph over all, eſpecially captivate, and command the heart and ſubdue it, every mans deſire is his maſter, brings him under a voluntary, but pleaſing ſubjection, as Gen. 3. 16. The poor woman who loves her huſband The like, Gen. 4. 7.dea…ly, her deſires are towards him, ſhe is ſubject to him, and he ruleth over her. Poor ſoul, ſhe ſtill hath her husband at one end of her thoughts; if abroad, her heart is with him; if at home, her eye is on him; if he be well he is the, deſire and delight of her eyes; if not well, he is the care and deſire of her heart; Every thing ſhe doth, ſhe hath this thought comes in, Will this pleaſe my husband, &c. ſo is it with the ſoul.
8. True deſires will be liberall and expenſive to gain what is deſired; wicked men will be at charge to fulfill the deſires of the fleſh; Schollers who deſire learning, will ſpare no coſt in books, and paines to fulfill thoſe more noble deſires of the mind. Eph 2. 3.And vain men, what coſt will they be at (as he in the daies of his vanity) Eccle. 2. 10. Whatſoever their eyes deſire they keep it not from them, what ever it coſt. So is it with the beſt, their deſires being rightly ſet, they lay out all they are able about them, as David and Solomon in building that houſe for God which both of them were ſo ambitious to ſet forward, 1 King. 9. 1. 1 Chron. 22. 14. David expended as hundred thouſand talents of Gold, a thouſand thouſand talents of ſilver, both ſummes put together as they are computed amount to ſeven hundred and fifty millions. This was at firſt laid by in the time of his wars and ſtraits, when he came bare to the Crown. And afterwards it ſeemes he added Three Se the late Annotations of the Engliſh divines on the place.thouſand talents of Gold of Ophir, and ſeven thouſand talents of refined ſilver, 1 Chron. 29. 4. (that is thirteen millions eight hundred thouſand, ſeventy five thouſand poundes ſterling more) becauſe as he ſaid he ſet his affection on the houſe of his God, v. 3. And ſhall we ſay we have good deſires when we offer that to God which coſts us nothing? How many are there who deſire foreign 1 Cor. 9. 18.nothing more then to have a cheap and unchargable Goſpel in theſe daies, but not in the Apoſtles ſenſe, he would have it unchargeable to others, theſe to themſelves, But this we find they who firſt deſire a cheap Goſpel, do next deſire no Goſpell at all.
9. When we take a right and proper courſe to attain our deſires they are right. Solomon as he ſpares no coſt, ſo he uſeth all 1 King. 5. 5, 6.meanes, ſends far and near to get workmen and materialls, the beſt could be had for mony for the Temple. The Queen of Sh…ba deſired reſolution of her hard queſtions; She came from the uttermoſt parts of the earth to get Solomons anſwer to them. Saul deſired 1 King. 10. 13. 1 Sam. 23. 20.to have David in his power, he raiſeth the country, muſtereth his forces, hunts him out in the wilderneſſe, as if he ſhould ſay, Ile have him dead, or alive; if he be above ground, Ile have him. So ſaith the deſiring ſoul, Ile not give over ſeeking, praying, waiting; Grace and pardon of ſin I muſt have, if it be above ground in ordinances, Ile after it, yea if it be above in heaven Ile thither to God for it. And for ſin, Ile have the life of it, if it were preſent, I would throw my javelin at it, if it hides itſelf, Ile ſeek after it; if it be decaying, Ile haſten to make an end of it, as they dealt with Abſalom, when he was labouring for life 2 Sam. 18. 14, 15. 17.in the tree, Joab thruſts three darts into his heart, then ten more come to make him ſure if he had any more lives then one, then they lay an heap of ſtones upon him; one death is not enough for ſuch an enemy. So it will be here, but they kill him, and kill him again, to rid the world of ſuch an Arch Rebell, ſuch indignation againſt and full revenge will be purſued againſt the Arch Rebell in the ſoul, the prevailing luſt: Or as Jehu whom God raiſed up to cut off the houſe of Ahab, he marcheth furiouſly, and when he lights on Joram the firſt born, he drawes his bow with his whole might, and ſmites Joram between the armes, that the arrow went out at his heart; and he ſunk down in his chariot, then throwes him out to the dogs, 2 King. 9. 24, 25. The like or worſe to Jezebell the curſed mother of that wicked race, he bids throw her out of the window and break her neck, not content with that fall he treads her under foot, and then leaves her to the dogs too, to make an end of her; To execute the Judgement that was written; Such honour (ſuch Indignation) have all the Saints, Pſal. 149. 9. So ſay the Godly, ſin hath brought one death upon me, and would bring a ſecond and an eternall death, I would therefore bring a firſt, ſecond and eternall death upon it.
10. Laſtly, Good deſires are impatiently patient, or patiently impatient till they be fulfilled, patient of paines, impatient onelyonly of delaies or diſappointment, Pro. 13. 12. Hope deferred maketh the heart ſick, but when the deſire cometh, it is a tree of life. Shechem Gen. 34. 19.becauſe his ſoul clave unto Dinah, delaid not to be circumciſed. And Jacob when he Gen. 31. 22. 30.longed to at his fathers houſe, ſet out by night, and was three daies journey on his way ere he was miſſed. A man whoſe heart hangs heavenward and to his fathers houſe, will not ſtay till he be forced out by ſickneſſe and death, but up he gets, and on he goes with all the ſpeed he can. Wicked Shimei may be a good example to wicked men, who was the firſt to fling ſtones at David, and curſe him, when he thought David could never call him to an account, but when he ſaw David returning, he haſted with the firſt to meet David to begge his life, and deſired it becauſe he came in of himſelf, the firſt of all the rebels, and obtained it, 2 Sam. 19. 16. 19, 20.
4. Rule, deſires are then good when attended with good companions: As.
1. Prayer and deſires go together, Ro. 10. 1. Pſal. 21. 2. Dead deſires may gaſp out ſome faint wiſhes, good deſires breath out ſtrong prayers.
2. Deſires and waiting, Eſ. 26. 8.
3. Deſires and ſeeking early and earneſtly ever go together, Eſay. 26. 9. Where are no endeavors, there are no deſires, unleſſe killing, as Solomon calls them, Pro. 21. 25. The deſire of the ſlothfull killeth him, for his hands refuſe to labour, Pro. 13. 4. The ſoul of the ſluggard deſireth and hath nothing, becauſe he joyneth no warme endeavors with his cold deſires. He loveth roaſt, but he Eccle. 4. 5love…h nor to turn the ſpit, Pro. 12. 27. The ſlothfull roaſteth not what he took in hunting. He deſires a good harveſt and a year of plenty with many a good wiſh, but he cannot away with this plowing and ſowing, with this heat and cold, with this toiling, and ſweating; Therefore his deſires make him a begger it is ſaid. Pro. 20. 4. But as the Poet ſaith,
Qui Cupit optatam vitae contingere metam,
Multa tulit, fecitque puer, ſudavit & al ſit.
Who ſo deſires a bleſſed life to gain.
Endures cold, heat, toile, ſweat, thirſt, hunger, paine.
But wiſhers and woulders we ſay never prove good houſholders, and certainly ſhall never prove heavenholders. Heaven is propounded in Scripture as the reward onelyonly to the hard labourer, Jo. 6. 27. To the diligent ſeeker, Ro. 2. 7. To the earneſt ſtriver, Lu. 13. 24. To the unwearied runner, 1 Cor. 9. 24. To the valiant fighter, 1 Tim. 6. 12. To the prevailing conquerer, Rev. 2. 7. To him that overcometh; But Lazy deſires have no place there. But they are one of the chief Arches upon which Hellbridge is founded, or of the pillars by which Satans kingdome is ſupported, which are reckoned five.
1. The good purpoſes of bad men, tha… they will amend, &c.
2. The good deſires of Lazy men.
3. The prayers and promiſes of ſick men.
4. The teares and repentance of dying men.
5. The ſtrong faith and good hopes of Ignorant, and prophane men. Satan ſaith to all theſe, well done good and faithfull ſervant. Purpoſe ſo ſtill deſire ſo ſtill, pray and promiſe ſo ſtill, repent ſo ſtill, and beleeve ſo ſtill.
4. Good deſires are accompanyed uſually with mourning after what is deſired, and fervency of mind, therefore mourning and earneſt deſire joyned.
5. With many other good companions mentioned, 2 Cor. 7. 11. Carefullneſſe, 2 Cor. 7. 7ſelfclearing, holy indignation, fear, zeal, revenge.
6. With earneſt groanings of ſoul, Pſal. 38. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 2. and breaking of heart almoſt till we have attained, Pſal. 119. 20.
7. Laſtly, with greateſt joy, when the deſire is granted, Pro. 13. 12. yea delight and contentment in looking after what is deſired Cant. 7. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12.
If thy deſires have theſe companions, they are good deſires, but if they be ſolitary deſires, and appear alone (as Caſtor, or Pollux ſingle, were acccounted ominous, if together, proſperous) they are killing and ſluggiſh deſires.