The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

Such desires have much in them of a childlike ingenuity. To desire the sight of a Fathers face; when this is this intimate sense of the soul show me the Father and it suffices; To desire the fullest conformity to his nature and will, to be perfect as that heavenly Father is perfect, what doth better become a child?

They are generous desires, they aim at perfection, the highest that created nature is capable of, not contented to have had some glances of divine glory, some strokes and lines of his image, but aspiring to full-eyed visions a perfect likeness.

They are generous desires, they aim at perfection, the highest that created nature is capable of, not contented to have had some glances of divine glory, some stroaks and lines of his image, but aspiring to full-eyd visions a perfect likeness.

They are victorious desires, they (as it were) ride in triumph over the world and every sublunary thing, they must be supposed to have conquered sensual inclinations to have got the mastery over terrene dispositions and affections. With what holy contempt and scorn of every earthly thing doth that lofty soul quit thi• dirty world and ascend, that is powerfully carried by its own desire towards the blessed state? The desire of such a knowledge of ⟨p. 357⟩Christ, as might transform into his Likeness; and pass the soul through all degrees of conformity to him, till it attain the resurrection of the dead, and become like a risen glorified Jesus; Such a desire I say, if it make all things seem as loss and dung in comparison (even a formal Spirit less religion it self) will it not render this world the most despicable dunghill of all the rest. Try such a soul if you can, tempt it down to enjoy a flattering kind world, or to please it when angry and unkind. When desires after this glory are once awakened, into an active lively vigour, when the fire is kindled, and the flame ascends and this refined Spirit is joyfully ascending therein; see if you can draw it back and make it believe this world a more regardable thing. Why should not all those considerations make thee in love with this blessed frame of Spirit, and restless till thou find thy self uncapable of being satisfied with any thing but divine likeness,