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Sixthly, Wicked men don't, nor can't truly and seriously §6desire saving grace; witness that enmity, hatred, rage and madness that is in them against the Saints, whose hearts and lives are enamelled with grace, Gen. 3.15. Psal. 34.21. Psal. 44.10. Job 31.29. Amos 5.10, &c. I have read of a desperate wretch, that when he came to die, he gave good portions to all his children but one, and to him he would give but twelve pence; and being asked the reason of it, he made answer, he was a Puritan; I have heard him say, said his wretched father, That he had a promise to live on; let us now see whether a promise will maintain him or no. Certainly, wherever there are true serious desires after grace, there is a dear love to those upon whose hearts the ⟨p. 176⟩work of grace is past. Now by these short hints, 'tis evident enough, that wicked men don't, nor can't sincerely, seriously desire grace; certainly such that are poor in spirit, and that mourn for their spiritual defects, and that hunger and thirst after grace and holiness, after a righteousness imparted and a righteousness imputed, must confess themselves to be in a blessed estate, and consequently in a state of grace; (for what true happiness is there out of it?) or else they must contradict our Saviour, and charge truth it self with untruth, who hath pronounced them blessed that are so qualified, so affected. Were this well weighed and seriously considered of, how would it comfort, refresh, support and stay up many a troubled soul? and what a well-spring of life would this be to many a wounded spirit? Doubtless the greatest part of a Saints perfection in this life (witness Pauls own ingenious confession after fourteen years conversion,¹ say some; and who ever went beyond him? and how exceedingly do most fall short of him?) consisteth rather in will than in work, and in desire and endeavour more than in deed. There is so much good in good desires, that it is the main that the godly have to speak of, and to reckon of; make an inventory of a Christians estate, and search every room, if you find not these you find nothing; and if you set these down in the inventory, you set down even all he is worth for another world. Daniel is called a man of desires, and so is every gracious man, a man wholly made up of gracious desires.