6. It argues some nearness to complete fruition, or to full satisfac- tion in heaven, when we begin to be more earnest after holiness than we were before, and after more of God and his grace and image to be set up in our souls. The more we desire holiness, the more ripe for heaven. This is a rule. The nearer we are to any good thing our hearts are set upon, the more impatient in the want of it ; as natural motions are swifter in the end than in the beginning, though violent motions are swifter in the beginning ; while the impression of the stone lasts it is swift, but afterwards it abates. So when the soul beats so strongly after God and holiness and larger measures of grace, it is a sign we are ripening apace for heaven. Paul, when he was grown aged in Christianity, then he saith, Ptom. vii. 24, ' Who shall deliver me from this body of death ? ' As what we translate in the Psalms, ' Oh that salvation were come out of Sion ! ' It is in the Hebrew, ' Who shall give salvation ? ' So here ; it is an Hebraism, Who shall ? that is. Oh, that I were delivered ! He had many afflic- tions ; he was in perils often, scourged, whipped, persecuted ; but he doth not say, Oh, that I could get rid of this troublesome life of afflic- tion ! but it was the body of death, the remainders of corruption, was most burdensome to him. The children of God their ])ulses beat strongly when they are upon the confines of eternity and their full and final consummation. These men begin to ripen for their heavenly state into which God will translate them.
VeR. 40.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 427
Use 1. For conviction of several sorts of persons that are far from this temper and frame of heart. To begin with the most notorious.
1. Some desire sin with a passionate earnestness: Job xv. 16, ' He drinketh iniquity hke water.' As a thirsty beast in those hot coun- tries would drink in water, so did they drink in sin. Most wicked men are mad when their lusts are set a-w^orking ; and there are some whose constant frame of heart it is, who make haste, who march furi- ously, as if they were afraid of coming to hell too late ; bear dow^n conscience, word, and all before them ; that set themselves to do evil with both hands earnestly ; that have a strong desire after sin, and are carried out with as impatient longing after sin as the children of God, such eminent ones of God, after holiness.
2. Some have no desire to the ways of God at all : Job xxi. 14, ' They say unto God, Depart from us ; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.' The hearts of many say so, though their tongues do not. They are those which shut out the light, that cannot endure a search- ing ministry, lest it should trouble their lusts, disturb the devil's king- dom ; that banish the thoughts of God out of their hearts, lest it revive the sense of their obligation to duty ; that set conscience a- challenging God's right in their souls ; that keep off from the light.
3. There are some that are insatiable in worldly things, but have no savour of these heavenly and holy things ; they are thirsty for the earth, but ' God is not in all their thoughts,' Ps. x. 4 ; a little grace will serve their turn, and think there is more ado than needs about heaven and heavenly things. Alas ! the very contrary is true ; a little of the world will serve their turn here below. If men had not a mind to increase their temptations and snares about a frail and tem[)oral life, why do they make so much ado, when many times they are taken away before they have roasted what they have got in hunting ? God takes them away, but their eternal estate is little looked after. Eiches qualify us not, but holiness doth qualify us for heaven, and it is our ornament before God and his holy angels. And woe be to us if our poor souls be thrust out naked and unclothed in the other world ! Can we hunger and hanker after these lying vanities, and have no hungering and thirsting after grace ? A little time will wear out the <listinction of rich and poor, high and low ; but the distinction of holy and good will continue to eternity. Think of that time when not only the world, but the lust, will pass away. The lust of the world may be gone before we are out of the world, as in sickness and pains ; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever. When we are sick and dying Ave have some kind of notions and apprehensions of these things ; then we can long and wish we had served God more strictly, loved him more strongly, obeyed him more faithfully. We must have these thoughts while we are living.
4. Many desire happiness, but not holiness ; comfort, without grace ; they would be eased of their present smart, and freed from sin, but not subdued to God. David saith, ' Behold I have longed after thy precepts;' not merely after the comfort of the promises, without re- gard to duty. The prophet tells us, Hosea x. 11, that ' Ephraim was like a heifer that was taught, that would tread out the corn, but would not endure the yoke, and break the clods.' In ploughing and