The beatitudes

4. The Hypocrites desires are cheap; he would have spiritual things, but he will be at no charges for them; he cares not how much money he parts with for his lusts; he hath money to spend upon a drunken companion, but he hath no money to part with for the maintaining of Gods Ordinances; Hypocrites cry up Religion, but cry down maintenance of Ministers. But true desires are costly; David would not offer burnt-offerings without cost, 1 Chron. 21.24. An hungry man will give any thing for food; as it fell out in the siege of Samaria, 2 Kings 6.25. That man did never hunger after Christ, who thinks much of parting with a little silver for the Pearl of price.

5. Hypocrites desires are flashy and transient; they §5are quickly gone, like the wind that stays not long in one corner; or like an hot fit, which is soon over. While the Hypocrite is under legal terror, or in affliction, he hath some good desires, but the hot fit is soon over; his goodness like a fiery Comet, soon spends and evaporates; but true desire is constant. It is observable, the Greek word in the text is in the participle [Greek or Hebrew], blessed are they that are hungering; though they have righteousness, yet they are still hungering after more. Hypocrites desire is like the motion of a Watch which is quickly down. The desire of a godly man is like the beating of the Pulse, which lasts as long as life, Psal. 119.20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgements. And that we might not think this pang of desire would soon be over, he adds [Greek or Hebrew] at all times. Davids desire after God was not an high colour in a fit, but the constant complexion of his soul. In the Temple the fire was not to go out by night, Levit. 6.13. The fire shall ever be burning upon the Altar. There was saith Cyril, a mystery in it, to show that we must be ever burning in holy affections and desires.