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

At this in-let, and by the labour of their own thoughts, sins and calamities are brought in upon them as a flood; which very thoughts if they were placed and exercised aright, would let in God upon them, fill them with his fullness, replenish their Souls with his light, grace, and consolations. And how much more easy an exercise were it to keep their thoughts employed upon one object that is ever full, delectable and present; than to divide them among many, that either lie remote, and out of their power, to be pursued with anxiety, toil, and very often with disappointment; Or, being nearer hand, are to be enjoyed (if they be things that have an appearance of good in them) with much danger and damage to their spirits, and with little satisfaction; or (if they appear evil) to be endured with pain and sorrow! So that the labour of their thoughts, among those many things, brings them in torture, when their Rest upon God alone,¹ would be all pleasure, delight and joy: Here their souls might dwell at ease or (as those words import) rest in goodness (even with that quiet repose which men are wont to take by night; for so the word we read Dwell peculiarly signifies, after the weariness which we may suppose to have been contracted by the labour of the foregoing day.

At this in-let, and by the labour of their own thoughts, sins and calamities are brought in upon them as a flood; which very thoughts if they were plac't and exercised aright, would let in God upon them, fill them with his fulness, replenish their Souls with his light, grace, and consolations. And how much more easie an exercise were it to keep their thoughts imployed upon one object that is ever full, delectable and present; than to divide them among many, that either lie remote, and out of their power, to be pursued with anxiety, toil, and very often with disappointment; Or, being nearer hand, are to be enjoyed (if they be things that have an appearance of good in them) with much danger and damage to their spirits, and with little satisfaction; or (if they appear evil) to be endured with pain and sorrow! So that the labour of their thoughts, among those many things, brings them in torture, when their Rest upon God alone,¹ would be all pleasure, delight and joy: Here their souls might dwell at ease or (as those words import) rest in goodness (even with that quiet repose which men are wont to take by night; for so the word we read Dwell peculiarly fignifies, after the weariness which we may suppose to have been contracted by the labour of the foregoing day.