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

Therefore they are best to be discerned in the state wherein that work is begun and hitherto unfinished. In which it therefore desires rightly, and still continues to desire. A state of intermingled motion and rest; wherein delight is imperfect, and allayed by the continual mixture of yet-unsatisfied desire. And yet it may be collected what it is that would be Sufficient to satisfy; because their desire is still determined to one thing, ¹is not vagrant, wanders not after things of another kind, but is intent only upon more of the same.

Therefore they are best to be discerned in the state wherein that worke is begun and hitherto unfinished. In which it therefore desires rightly, and still continues to desire. A state of intermingled motion and rest; wherein delight is imperfect, and allay'd by the continual mixture of yet-unsatisfy'd desire. And yet it may be collected what it is that would be Sufficient to satisfy; because their desire is still determined to one thing, ¹is not vagrant, wanders not after things of another kind, but is intent only upon more of the same.

1. 1Psal. 27. 4.

Now let it be enquired of such a one what that thing is. We are generally told there, * One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, &c. And it may be many would ⟨p. 18⟩more shortly tell you it is God they desire, whence it would only be concluded it is God they aim to enjoy or delight in. But because this brings us but where we were; Let it be further enquired, what then is your business with God, or what would you have of him? It is not, sure, to be God that you expect or seek, or to enjoy God in that sense wherein he possesses and enjoys himself. No, not by any means. It is then some communication from God, diverse from what all men have (for that they do not find apt to satisfy) which they desire and crave. And what is that? Tis somewhat, as possible to be apprehended, and as distinguishable both from his incommunicable Being, and his so generally communicated Bounty towards all. As if the enquiry were, What it is that I desire really to enjoy when I desire to enjoy a friend? (viz. as the notion of a friend or friendship doth most properly import). That is neither to desire the impossible thing, of possessing his Being as my own; Nor the unsatisfying thing, the mere partaking some part of his external goods and wealth; whereof it may be he daily imparts somewhat to every beggar at at his door. But it is to have his intimate acquaintance, his counsel and advice, the advantage of improving my self by his converse, and of conforming my self to his example in his imitable perfections; The assurances of his faithful constant love and friendship, in reference to all future emergencies. A friend is really to be enjoyed in such things as these.