2. It is suitable also to the desires of the Saints:2 For such as their natures, such be their desires; and such as their desires, such will be their Rest. Indeed, we have now a mixed Nature; and from contrary principles, do arise contrary desires: As they are flesh, they have desires of flesh, and as they are sinful, so they have sinful desires. Perhaps they could be too willing whilst these are stirring, to have delights and riches, and honour, and sin it self. But these are not their prevailing Desires, nor such as in their deliberate choice they will stand too; therefore is it not they, but sin and flesh. These are not the desires that this Rest is suited to, for they will not accompany them to their Rest. To provide contents to satisfy these, were to provide food for them that are dead. For they that are in Christ, 2have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof. But it is the Desires of our renewed Nature, and those which the Christian will ordinarily own, which this Rest suited too. Whilst our desires remain corrupted and misguided, ⟨p. 100⟩it is a far greater Mercy to deny them, yea, to destroy them, then to satisfy them: But those which are Spiritual, are of his own planting, and he will surely water them, and give the increase. Is it so great a work to raise them in us; and shall they after all this, vanish and fail? To send the Word and Spirit, Mercies and Judgments, to raise the sinners desires from the Creature to God, and then to suffer them so raised, all to perish without success; this were to multiply the Creatures misery: And then were the work of Sanctification, a designed preparative to our torment and tantalizing; but no way conducible to our happy Rest. He quickened our hungering and thirst for Righteousness, that he might make us happy in a full satisfaction. Christian, this is a Rest after thine own heart; it containeth all that thy heart can wish; that which thou longest for, prayest for, labourest for, there thou shalt find it all. Thou hadst rather have God in Christ, then all the world; why there thou shalt have him. O what wouldst thou not give for assurance of his love? why there thou shalt have assurance beyond suspicion; Nay, thy desires cannot now extend to the height of what thou shalt there obtain. Was it not an high favour of God to Solomon, to promise to give him whatsoever he would ask?
2. It is suitable also to the desires of the Saints:2 For such as their natures, such be their desires; and such as their desires, such will be their Rest. Indeed, we have now a mixed Nature; and from contrary principles, do arise contrary desires: As they are flesh, they have desires of flesh, and as they are sinful, so they have sinful desires. Perhaps they could be too willing whilest these are stirring, to have delights and riches, and honor, and sin it self. But these are not their prevailing Desires, nor such as in their deliberate choice they will stand too; therefore is it not they, but sin and flesh. These are not the desires that this Rest is suited to, for they will not accompany them to their Rest. To provide contents to satisfie these, were to provide food for them that are dead. For they that are in Christ, 2have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof. But it is the Desires of our renewed Nature, and those which the Christian will ordinarily own, which this Rest suited too. Whilest our desires remain corrupted and misguided, ⟨p. 100⟩it is a far greater Mercy to deny them, yea, to destroy them, then to satisfie them: But those which are Spiritual, are of his own planting, and he will surely water them, and give the increase. Is it so great a work to raise them in us; and shall they after all this, vanish and fail? To send the Word and Spirit, Mercies and Judgments, to raise the sinners desires from the Creature to God, and then to suffer them so raised, all to perish without success; this were to multiply the Creatures misery: And then were the work of Sanctification, a designed preparative to our torment and tantalizing; but no way conducible to our happy Rest. He quickened our hungering and thirst for Righteousness, that he might make us happy in a full satisfaction. Christian, this is a Rest after thine own heart; it containeth all that thy heart can wish; that which thou longest for, prayest for, laborest for, there thou shalt finde it all. Thou hadst rather have God in Christ, then all the world; why there thou shalt have him. O what wouldst thou not give for assurance of his love? why there thou shalt have assurance beyond suspicion; Nay, thy desires cannot now extend to the height of what thou shalt there obtain. Was it not an high favor of God to Solomon, to promise to give him whatsoever he would ask?
- 2To our Desires.
- 2Gal. 5.24.
