It is plain that, in Solomon's opinion, good desires, which when duly cherished and improved, will be productive of the happiest effects, may through sloth and indolence issue in self-deception and ruin. That we may have a just view of this important subject, I will mark the influence of good desires,
1. In the bosoms of the diligent —
[This, though not expressly mentioned, is evidently im- plied, since it is in the slothful only that good desires can have a fatal issue.
Now we need only see how desire operates in diligent men, whatever their vocation be, whether in trade, or agriculture, or science ; and that will shew us how it will operate in reference to religion : it will stimulate men to such exertions as are
necessary to the acquisition of the object desired^ For
the attainment of heaven, we must exert ourselves in a way of " repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ:" and, if our desires after heaven be sincere, they will render us earnest and laborious in the pursuit of these, and never suffer
us to pause till we have actually attained them Thus
accompanied with diligence, they will bring us to the enjoy- ment of peace and holiness and glory — • — ■ — ]
2. In the bosoms of the slothful —
[In them good desires may justly be said to occasion death. They do so indirectly, because they are not produc- tive of suitable exertions. It is said, " The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting'^." And this is precisely the case wdth those whose conduct we are considering. They have, in consequence of their good desires, pursued and obtained the knowledge of religious truth ; but in consequence of their sloth they have neglected to follow their advantages, and to improve their attainments for the benefit of their souls. Hence " their vineyard is overgrown with thorns, and the stone wall thereof is fallen down ; yea, and poverty comes upon them {gradually) like one that travelleth, and want {irresistibly) like an armed man*^:" so true is that declaration of Solomon, " He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster^."
But this is by no means the full sense of our text. It is not in an indirect way only that in the slothful man good desires operate to the production of death : no ; they have a direct influence towards the destruction of his soul. The man in whose bosom good desires arise, is conscious of them ; and
^ Point out this in reference to the fore-mentioned pursuits. »> Prov. xii. 27. <= Prov. xxiv. 30—34. ^ Prov. xviii. 0.