Here we have them but in measure; there indeed is joy unspeakable, and most glorious, without any interruption; when we shall see God face to face (1 Cor. c. 13, v. 12); and know him as we are known, whom now we behold as through a glass, and so may sometimes doubt whether we see him or no. This measure we must be contented with, and so pray as the Psalmist doth (Psal. 106, v. 4, 5), Remember me, O Lord, with the favour of thy people, that I may see the felicity of thy chosen: where he desireth not such joy and feeling of the favour of God which he did imagine himself, but that which God doth usually bestow upon his people, which is that which is joined with much doubting, and many fears, even then sometimes when it is at the best; and so not imagine, that unless we have it according to our own desire, we have it not at all, or as God's people use to have it. For undoubtedly it is thus with the best, at one time or other.

And concerning this desire of feeling and assurance, we must understand thus much, that none can have this, but those that believe: so that though we should want them both altogether, yet the desire that we have unto them, doth manifestly

argue that we have faith. For who can desire to feel the heat and light of the sun, but he that hath life in him? a dead carcase cannot do it. So if there were not the life of the Spirit in us by faith, we could not have any desire to feel the favour of God in us in truth at all. He that is never so weak, yet if he still desire strength, it appeareth that there is life in him: so when we most earnestly desire to be strengthened in the assurance of our salvation, it is a manifest token, that the life of God is still in us: therefore let us comfort ourselves with such desires, and know assuredly, that as they be of God, so he will satisfy them in his good time: for the Lord heareth the desire of the poor, he prepareth their heart, and bendeth his care unto them (Psal. 10, v. 17): that is, as he giveth them so earnestly to desire these things, which others neglect, so he will shew, by giving also that which they do desire, that he hath not given them such holy desires in vain. For the saying of our Saviour Christ must be verified upon all men, without respect of persons, Blessed are all they that hunger and thirst, not only after righteousness, but after any other graces of his Spirit, for they shall be

satisfied and filled (Mat. c. 5, v. 6). And the saying of the Virgin Mary shall be verified in them, He hath filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty (Luke c. 1, v. 53): that is, as they that have no such desires, can look for no such feeling, so they that are unsatiable in their desires that way, shall be satisfied in time with abundance of feeling; and if they wait upon God with patience believing these promises, it shall be unto them according to their faith.

That I might not say here that, which is yet most true, that while they so unmeasureably desire it, they have it in a good measure. For herein is the saying of St, Augustine most true, that the desire of any grace of God, is in some sort the grace itself. He that unfeignedly desireth the forgiveness of his sins, doth with this desire obtain the remission of them.

He that desireth a greater measure of repentance, doth from day to day profit in repentance: he that desireth not to sin, is no sinner before God: he that desireth the favour of God, hath obtained it already: be that desireth the assurance of his salvation, and the feeling of God's favour, he hath both of them in some sort already,

When Abraham was willing to offer up his son Isaac at God's commandment, he is said to have done it by faith (Heb. c. 11, v. 17): his desire before God was as though he had done it: so when we offer up these desires unto God, it is as well with us in his account, as though we had the things themselves.

For as the Apostle speaketh of alms (2 Cor. c. 8, v. 12), if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not: that is, God looketh not so much to his deed, as to his desire; as the poor widow that offered but two mites, was more accepted of God, and commended by Christ, than they that offered much, because of her great desire. So when in the sacrifice of prayer we offer up our hearts unto God with holy desires either for assurance of his favour, or feeling of our salvation, we are accepted of him, as though we had them: and when he giveth us this desire, he beginneth to work the grace itself and that desire is the earnest penny and pledge of the thing itself.

Christ saith in the Gospel, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already

So that the

in his heart (Mat. c. 5, v. 27). desire unto any sin, is the sin itself before God; then the desire unto any virtue, is the virtue and grace itself before God. And therefore he that looketh up unto God with an earnest desire of his salvation, he hath obtained it already before God, who seeth and alloweth the desire of his heart. He that looketh on his own unbelief and corruptions with a desire to be rid of then, he is thereby discharged of them before God. Thus we see, that to desire feeling is an argument of faith, as to desire ́meat is an argument of life; yea to desire feeling is the very beginning of it in ourselves and therefore we must be comforted over them.

Concerning which feelings, we must also consider, that in them that have them in the greatest measure, they are not always alike; but they are going and coming, as the day and the night. And as in the course of nature there is not one tenour of things, but God's works are subject to many changes; so is it in the course of God's grace: that which we have received, doth not always continue alike, neither have we the same feeling of it to-day that we had yesterday; whether we look to the