II. The last Rule which I observed was that our Desires ought not to be faint and sluggish, but industrious and painful, both for the arming us to avoid and withstand all oppositions and difficulties, which we are every where likely to meet withal in the pursuit of our happiness; and also for the wise and discreet applying of the several furtherances requisite thereunto. And indeed that is no True, which is not an Operative ⟨p. 196⟩Desire: a Velleity it may be, but a Will it is not. For what ever a man will have, he will seek in the use of such means, as are proper to procure it. Children may wish for Mountains of gold, and Balaam may wish for an happy death, and an A theist may wish for a soul as earthly in substance as in Affection; but these are all the ejaculations rather of a Speculative fancy, than of an industrious affection. True desires as they are right in regard of their object, so are they laborious in respect of their motion. And therefore those which are idle and impatient of any pains, which stand like the Carman in the Fable, crying to Hercules when his Wuine fluck in the mud to help it out, without stretching out his own hands to touch it, are first unnatural desires, it being the formal property of this Passion to put the Soul upon some motion or other. And therefore we see wheresoever Nature hath given it, she hath given likewise some manner of motion or other to serve it. And secondly they are by consequence undutiful and disobedient Desires, in that they submit not themselves unto that Law, which requireth that we manifest the life and strength of our Love by the quickness and operation of it in our Desires. And lastly, such Desires are unuseful and fruitless: for how can an object▪ which standeth in a fixed distance from the Nature, which it should perfect, be procured by idle and standing affections? The desires of the sluggard (saith Solomon) slay him, because his1 hands refuse to labour. These affections must ⟨p. 197⟩have life in them, which bring life after them: Dead desires are deadly desires.
II. The last Rule which I observed was that our Desires ought not to bee faint and sluggish, but industrious and painefull, both for the arming us to avoid and withstand all oppositions and difficulties, which we are every where likely to meet withall in the pursuit of our happinesse; and also for the wise and discreet applying of the severall furtherances requisite thereunto. And indeed that is no True, which is not an Operative ⟨p. 196⟩Desire: a Velleity it may be, but a Will it is not. For what ever a man will have, hee will seek in the use of such meanes, as are proper to procure it. Children may wish for Mountaines of gold, and Balaam may wish for an happy death, and an A theist may wish for a soule as earthly in substance as in Affection; but these are all the ejaculations rather of a Speculative fancie, than of an industrious affection. True desires as they are right in regard of their object, so are they laborious in respect of their motion. And therefore those which are idle and impatient of any paines, which stand like the Carman in the Fable, crying to Hercules when his Wuine fluck in the mud to helpe it out, without stretching out his owne hands to touch it, are first unnaturall desires, it being the formall property of this Passion to put the Soule upon some motion or other. And therefore wee see wheresoever Nature hath given it, she hath given likewise some manner of motion or other to serve it. And secondly they are by consequence undutifull and disobedient Desires, in that they submit not themselves unto that Law, which requireth that wee manifest the life and strength of our Love by the quicknesse and operation of it in our Desires. And lastly, such Desires are unusefull and fruitlesse: for how can an object▪ which standeth in a fixed distance from the Nature, which it should perfect, be procured by idle and standing affections? The desires of the sluggard (saith Salomon) slay him, because his1 hands refuse to labour. These affections must ⟨p. 197⟩have life in them, which bring life after them: Dead desires are deadly desires.
- 1Pro. 21. 25: 13. 4.
