A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

Nor is that a difficulty, how yet there may be somewhat of delectation, and even of rest in this love of desire; For the Soul doth in that case, while it is thus desiring, rest from the indetermination of desire: that is, if it have placed Love upon any one (it self or another) upon whom therefore it doth with a sort of pleasedness stay and rest; it doth first in the general desire it may be well with such a one; and then, if any thing occur to its notice that it apprehends would be an advantage to the person loved; though it cease not desiring it, yet it ceases from those its former hoverings of desire; being pitched upon this one thing, as satisfied that this would be a good to him it loves. The appetite stays and insists upon this thing; As the Psalmist, One thing have I desired. ¹It hath here, as it were, a sort of hypothetical rest; q. d. How well-pleased should I be if this were compassed and brought about! Or it hath an anticipated and pre-apprehended rest, a rest in hope (by which the object is some way made present), as it is said, We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. For there is no rational desire which is not accompanied with hope. Despair stifles Desire. That which appears simply impossible, passes for nothing; and goodness goes not beyond the compass of being. But whatsoever appears ⟨p. 141⟩to us a good (whether for our selves or another), that is suitable and possible; That if love stir in reference to it, becomes the object of complacential desire; that is, it pleases us first upon sight, or upon such an apprehension of it; the appetite pitches, centres and rests upon it; and then we pursue it with desire. But then our delectation therein grows, as our hope doth it will be attained; and still more (if we find it to answer its first appearance) as by degrees it is attained actually; till being fully attained, our desire (as to that thing) ends in all the delight and satisfaction which it can afford us; so that the delight and rest which follows desire in the actual fruition of a full and satisfying-good, is much more intense and pure, than that which either goes before, or doth accompany it; and is indeed the same thing with fruition or enjoyment it self; only that this term hath been, by some, more appropriated to signify the delectation which is taken in the last End, unto which yet it hath no more native designation than divers other words.