Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .B352 1835 v2

BAXTER'& DYING TROUGIRT, 123 the same with the will of Christ : but he saith not ,that it shall all be givenushere. We ask for perfection, and we shallhave it, but nothere.. iii. Yea, my will itself shall be my fruition, for it shall not be the.will of one in need; a desire of what I want, for I shall want nothing ; therefore it is said that we shall thirst no more : but it will be a complacency in what I do possess, and in this alsomy perfection will be the image ofGod's perfection; not but that all creatures still receive from, God, and ,in that sense may be said to need, in that they, have nothing of themselves, but all by gift and com- munication from'him; but' being still and full possessors, they can- not properly be said to want. Complacency in that which we possess is love and pleasure in one act ; and, indeed, pleasure and love are the same thing. To love any thing, is,to have that thing to be pleasing tomy mind. Even when it is wanted, it is thought on as a pleasing thing, and therefore desired, so' that the, desiring act of the will 'is but a second act occasioned by want, and,follow- ing the first act, which is complacency, or simple love. I desire it because I love it. Rightly, therefore, is the will itself called love, fór, in the first, act, love, will, and, rational appetite, are all words of the same signification. My ,will, therefore, must needs be perpetually full of perfect joy, when enjoying love and pleasure will be my will itself. Thus shall I have inme the spring of living waters, and the Comforter will then perfectly 'do his work,' when my constant will itself shall be comfort. Well, therefore, is glory said to be the perfection df sanctifying grace, when this grace is the beginning of that, love and joy which. glory is the perfection of; and perfection is the Spirit''s work. iv. And it will be much of my felicity that my will shall be confirmed and fixed inthis conformity to the will ofGod; and holy. love will be its nature., Now, both understanding andwill are so lamentably mutable, that, further than God promniseth to uphold us, we know not one day what we ,shall think, judge, or will the next. But when love. is as a fixed nature in' us, we shall be still the same, adhering to amiable goodness, without intermission or, cessation. It will be ,as easy to us (and more) to love God 'and holiness, as it is. to the hungry and- thirsty to love meat and drink, or to the proud to love praise or: domination, yea, or, to any man to love his life. And we shall be no more weary of loving, than the sun is of shin- ing, or than the hungry is of feasting, or a friend of friendly love and converse. Nayy.the comparison is quite too low, for all crea- tures here have a fading vanity which wearieth the satiated or failing appetite; but there is no such thing in heaven. And as from the nature of that act, so much more from the na- ture ofthe object, my love will appear to be my happiness.. The objects (which are the matter ofThe act) .will be these: .

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