desires are counted a part of the thing desired in some measure; but then they must be, first, constant, for constancy shows that they are supernaturally natural, and not enforced; secondly, they must be carried to spiritual things, as to believe, to love God: not out of a special exigent, because, if now they had grace, they think they might escape some danger, but as a loving heart is carried to the thing loved for some excellency in itself; and thirdly, with desire there is grief when it is hindered, which stirs up to prayer: “Oh, that my ways were so directed, that I might keep thy
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