2. These wishes are hasty and not serious. The commendation of spiritual things, and the representation of their absolute necessit}'', may produce strange motions for the present ; but there is a ground of sus- picion, because people all of a sudden become so vehement. The seed that fell into the stony ground forthwith sprang up, Mat. xiii. 5. Oh ! but it needs much wrestling and care to cherish and raise up these serious and fixed desires, and this constant bent of heart towards God. Free-will pangs of natural devotion are soon spent ; they are like the morning dew, it suddenly falls, and suddenly dries up. Deut. v. 29, when the people were frightened into a sense of religion, say they, * All that the Lord hath spoken will we do.' ' They have well said,' saith God, it is a good resolution ; ' But oh ! that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me always.' Many times there are certain desires and resolutions that have a mortal sincerity in them — that is, we do not dissemble for the present — but they have not a bottom of grace, supernatural sincerity to bear them up.
3. They are not constant desires, but as they are soon up, so soon down. Our Lord Jesus saith, Mat. v. 6, 'Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness ; ' not only shall he, but are blessed for the present. Mark, it is in the Greek, They that ' are hungering and thirsting ; ' these participles, as all grammarians know, note a continued act. The fire on the altar was never to go out. Lev. vi. 12. There are certain unfixed desires and inconstant motions which for a time are very passionate ; as water, seething hot over the fire ; take it oft', it returns to its natural temper, and it is colder afterwards ; so the soul returns to its bias and old bent again towards worldly things. Therefore there must be a constant desire kept up. Such as enjoy the grace of God will still need and desire more. This is the constant temper of their souls ; they are always de- siring and longing after God's precepts, and more grace to keep his will.
4. In those desires which they seem to have after holiness, here is the defect, they are not laborious. He that longs for God's precepts
430 SERMOXS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SePv. XLV.
will do his utmost endeavour that he may yiekl uniform obedience to God. The scripture placeth much upon the will. Macarius, an ancient practical writer, puts this question, Who are those that have a will to God and heavenly things, and a will to the waters of life ? What demonstrations can there be of a will ? Nothing but constant labour. If there be such a will as to set you awork, and a desire which makes you diligent. Lazy prayers and feeble endeavours, they do not argue any great strength of desire. Alas ! when a man asketh grace indifferently and coldly, and is almost at an even point whether God hears him or no, and doth not seek after that grace, and ex- cite his soul, this man hath not a desire, because it is not laborious. If it be not an operative desire, it is but a velleity ; a will it is not. All their prayers are but the ejaculations of speculative fancy, not the products of true affection, for that would be industrious : Prov. xxi. 25, ' The desire of the slothful killeth, for his hands refuse to labour.' They do not manifest the life and strength of love in their endeavours that they seem to have in their prayers. Cold prayer they may put up for grace that God may make them better ; and they wish it were better with them, and that the Lord would bring them to a greater conformity ; but these are not laborious desires. Volens sed nolens, they would, but they will not ; that is to say, Oh, that I were at such a place ! and never travel the way to get there. So, Would I had learned such a lesson ! yet like a lazy boy they set not themselves in good earnest to do it. They seem to will or Avish ; therefore they are but wouldings, not willings. They do not in good earnest set themselves to get that grace. There is not such an invincible resolution to get through, and a serious industry that they may attain those things they seem to long for. 5. These wishes and desires which are in carnal men are not per- manent, that overcome the desire of other things ; they will not ab- solutely set about it to be done whatever it cost them : but such de- sires as are sincere overcome all earthly desires and delights whatever. They would have grace, but yet would live as they do. It is not such a desire as to control other things, but is controlled by them. The desire of grace is an underling, and mastered by the desire of pleasures or profits of the world, and other delights. Many have a desire, but it is easily subdued, it is not prevalent. Alas ! there may a faint desire be stirred up by enlightened conscience, and not by a fruit of a renewed will. A dictate of conscience must be distinguished from a desire of the heart. Illuminated conscience tells them they must grow more holy and heavenly, and wish they were so ; but the heart is not perfectly subdued to God. They are directed by their interest ; they make not this the main and great interest of their lives. David, when he expresseth his desires, mentions it thus : Ps. xxvii. 4, ' 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 ; ' that is, I will make tliis my business, the chiefest matter of my care. But now, they that care not whether they have it, yea or nay, this cannot be a desire : Phil. ii. 12, we are bid to ' work out our salvation with fear and trembling.' We must carry on the business of godli- ness with a great deal of solicitude ; but their affections sway them more to other thincrs.