And this desire being a true and settled desire,1 must needs be seconded with endeavour. It is not a poor, faint, sluggish, wishing and woulding, by which a man (as it were betwixt sleeping and waking) doth think, twere well if I did, and sure I will, and I would if I could, as a sluggard lieth stretched in his bed, and faintly wisheth, O that I could arise! It is not (I say) such a feeble, powerless, avert, desire, as this (which is but (as one would say) the tenth part of the consent of the will, to the thing willed): but it is a desire so mighty, and effectual, as doth bring forth an endeavour. It makes a man put forth himself, to effect the thing desired. He wisheth to obey, as a resolute soldier wisheth victory, so as he will fight for it, and draw his weapon, and meet his enemy in the face, and hazard limb and life, and give and receive blows, and leave nothing undone, that his wit serves him to think of, for the achievement of victory. A coward also would fain divide the spoil, and feed himself with the fatness of a good booty: but his wishes do not disperse themselves ⟨p. 112⟩into his hands and legs, nor stir up his spirits and his limbs to be entering battle, and to join hand to hand with the foe: so a good mans desire of obedience, sets his head, and heart, and hand on work, to the attainment of obedience. He thinks; Ah that I could be good according to Gods commandment! And further he thinketh; What may I do to get power against such a sin? to attain strength to do such duties? And when he sees what is to be done, he sets about it, he calls upon himself, he calls upon God, he urgeth his own heart, he entreats the Lord Jesus for help, he blames himself, he condemns himself, he enforceth upon himself the remembrance of Gods commandments, Gods judgements,2 Gods promises, and as David saith, he lifts up his hands to the Law of God which he hath loved. He is busy in labouring to obey, and a man that lives with him, may even perceive in him, and he, in himself, a strife this way. For in truth as there is a great difference betwixt lusting to be rich, and labouring for wealth: so betwixt a bare lusting to be good, and endeavouring after goodness. The sluggard would be content to take wealth, if he could find it under his foot, or if with little ado he could entreat it to fall into his lap;
And this desire being a true and setled desire,1 must needs be seconded with endeauour. It is not a poore, faint, sluggish, wishing and woulding, by which a man (as it were betwixt sleeping and waking) doth thinke, twere well if I did, and sure I will, and I would if I could, as a sluggard lieth stretched in his bed, and faintly wisheth, O that I could arise! It is not (I say) such a feeble, powerlesse, auert, desire, as this (which is but (as one would say) the tenth part of the consent of the will, to the thing willed): but it is a desire so mighty, and effectuall, as doth bring forth an endeauour. It makes a man put forth himselfe, to essect the thing desired. Hee wisheth to obey, as a resolute souldiour wisheth victory, so as he will fight for it, and draw his weapon, and meete his enemy in the face, and hazard limme and life, and giue and receiue blowes, and leaue nothing vndone, that his wit serues him to thinke of, for the atchieuement of victory. A coward also would faine diuide the spoile, and feede himselfe with the fatnesse of a good booty: but his wishes do not dispearce themselues ⟨p. 112⟩into his hands and legges, nor stirre vp his spirits and his limmes to be entring battaile, and to ioyne hand to hand with the foe: so a good mans desire of obedience, sets his head, and heart, and hand on worke, to the attainement of obedience. He thinkes; Ah that I could be good according to Gods commandement! And further hee thinketh; What may I doe to get power against such a sinne? to attaine strength to doe such duties? And when hee sees what is to be done, he sets about it, he calles vpon himselfe, he calles vpon God, he vrgeth his owne heart, hee entreates the Lord Iesus for helpe, he blames himselfe, hee condemnes himselfe, hee inforceth vpon himselfe the remembrance of Gods commandements, Gods iudgements,2 Gods promises, and as Dauid saith, he lifts vp his hands to the Law of God which hee hath loued. He is busie in labouring to obey, and a man that liues with him, may euen perceiue in him, and he, in himselfe, a strift this way. For in truth as there is a great difference betwixt lusting to be rich, and labouring for wealth: so betwixt a bare lusting to be good, and endeauouring after goodnesse. The sluggard would bee content to take wealth, if he could find it vnder his foote, or if with little adoe hee could entreat it to fall into his lap;
- 1And endeavour.And endeauour.
- 2Psalm. 25 9.48.
