the Text from whence the whole is educed is to manifest how it is Life and Peace which is affirmed by the Apostle This shall be done with all brevity as having passed through that which was principally designed And two things are we to enquire into 1 What is meant by Life and Peace 2 In what Sense to be Spiritually Minded is both of them 1 That Spiritual Life whereof we are made Partakers in this World is threefold or there are three Gospel Priviledges or Graces so expressed 1 There is the Life of Justification Therein the Just by Faith do live as freed from the Condemnatory Sentence of the Law So the Righteousness of one comes on all that believe unto the Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 It gives unto Believers a Right and Title to Life for they that receive the abundance of Grace and the Gift of Righteousness shall reign in Life by one Christ Jesus vers 17. This is not the Life here intended for this Life depends solely on the Soveraign Grace of God by Jesus Christ and the Imputation of his Righteousness unto us unto Pardon Right to Life and Salvation 2 There is a Life of Sanctification As Life in the foregoing sense in opposed unto Death spiritual as unto the the Guilt of it and the condemnatory Sentence of Death wherewith it was accompanied so in this it is opposed unto it as unto its internal Power on and Efficacy in the Soul to keep it under an Impotency unto all Acts of Spiritual Life yea an Enmity against them This is that Life wherewith we are quickned by Christ Jesus when before we were dead in Trespasses and Sins Ephes. 2.1 5. Of this Life the Apostle treats directly in this place for having in the first four verses of the Chapter declared the Life of Justification in the nature and Causes of it in the following he treats of Death spiritual in Sin with the Life of Sanctification whereby we are freed from it And to be Spiritually-Minded is this Life in a double Sense 1 In that it is the principal Effect and Fruit of that Life The Life it self consists in the Infusion and Communication of a Principle of Life that is of Faith and Obedience unto all the Faculties and Powers of our Soul enabling us to live unto God To be Spiritually-Minded which is a Grace whereunto many Duties do concur and that not only as to the Actings of all Grace in them but as unto the Degrees of their Exercise cannot be this Life formally But it is that wherein the Power of this Principle of Life doth in the first and chiefest place put forth it self All Actings of Grace all Duties of Obedience internal and external do proceed from this Spring and Fountain Nothing of that kind is acceptable unto God but what is influenced by it and is an Effect of it but it principally puts forth its Vertue and Efficacy in rendring our Minds Spiritual which if it effect not it works not at all that is we are utterly destitute of it The next and immediate Work of the Principle of Life in our Sanctification is to renew the Mind to make it Spiritual and thereon gradually to carry it on unto that Degree which is here called being Spiritually-Minded 2 It is the proper Adjunct and Evidence of it Would any one know whether he be Spiritually alive unto God with the Life of Sanctification and Holiness The Communication of it unto him being by an Almighty Act of creating Power Ephes 2.10 It is not easily discernable so as to help us to make a right Judgement of it from its Essence or Form But where things are in themselves indiscernable we may know them from their proper and inseperable Adjuncts which are therefore called by the Names of the Essence or the Form it self Such is this being Spiritually-Minded with respect unto the Life of Sanctification it is an inseperable Property and Adjunct of it whereby it infallibly evidenceth if self unto them in whom it is In these two respects it is the Life of Sanctification 3 Life is taken for the Comforts and Refreshments of Life So speaks the Apostle 1 Thes. 3.8 Now we live if you stand fast in the Lord now our Life will do us good we have the Comforts the Refreshments and the Joyes of it Non est vivere Sed valere vita The Comforts and Satisfactions of Life are more Life than Life it self It is Life that is that which makes Life to be so bringing in that Satisfaction those Refreshments unto it which make it pleasant and desirable And I do suppose this is that which is principally intended in the Words of the Apostle it is Life a chearful joyous Life a Life worth the living In Explication and Confirmation whereof it is added that it is Peace also Peace is twofold 1 General and absolute that is Peace with God through Jesus Christ which is celebrated in the Scripture and which is the only Original Spring and Fountain of all Consolation unto Believers that which virtually containes in it every thing that is good Useful or desirable unto them But it is not here precisely intended It is not so 1 As to the immediate ground and Cause of it which is our Justification not our Sanctification Rom. 5.1 Being justifyed by Faith we have Peace with God So Christ alone is our Peace as he who hath made Peace for us by the Blood of the Cross Ephes. 2.14 15. Hereof our being Spiritually-Minded is no way the cause or reason only it is an Evidence and Pledge of it as we shall see 2 Not as unto the formal nature of it Peace with God through the Blood of Christ is one thing and Peace in our Minds through an holy Frame in them is another The former is communicated unto us by an immediate Act of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us Rom. 5.5 The latter is an Effect on our Minds begun and gradually carryed on by the Duties we have before at large declared The immediate Actings of the holy Spirit in sealing us witnessing unto our Adoption and being an Earnest of Glory are required unto the former Our own Sedulity and Diligence in Duties and the Exercise of all Grace are required unto the latter 2 Peace is taken for a peculiar Fruit of the Spirit consisting in a gracious Quietness and Composure of Mind in the mid'st of Difficulties Temptations Troubles and such other things as are apt to fill us with Fears Despondencies and Disquietments This is that which keeps the Soul in its own Power free from Transports by Fears or Passions on all the abiding Grounds of Gospel Consolation For although this be a peculiar especial Grace yet it it that which is influenced and kept alive by the Consideration of all the Love of God in Christ and all the Fruits of it And whereas Peace includes in the first Notion of it an inward Freedom from Oppositions and Troubles which those in whom it is are outwardly exposed
Hearts and Affections 3. Earnestness and appearing Fervency in Prayer as unto the outward delivery of the Words of it yea though the mind be so affected as to contribute much thereunto will not of themselves prove that the Thoughts of men therein do arise from an Internal Spring of Grace There is a Fervency of Spirit in Prayer that is one of the best Properties of it being an earnest Acting of Love Faith and Desire But there is a Fervency wherewith the mind it self may be affected that may arise from other Causes 1. It may do so from the ingagement of Natural Affections unto the Object of their Prayer or the things Prayed for Men may be mighty Earnest and Intent in their minds in praying for a Dear Relation or for Deliverance from Eminent Troubles or Imminent Dangers and yet all this Fervour arise from the vehement Actings of Natural Affections about the things prayed for excited in an especial manner by the present Duty Hence God calls the earnest cryes of some for Temporal things not a Crying unto him but an Howling Hosea 7.14 That is the cry of hungry Ravenous Beasts that would be satisfied 2. Sometimes it ariseth from the sharpness of Convictions which will make men even Roar in their Prayers for disquietment of Heart And this may be where there is no true Grace as yet received nor it may be ever will be so For the perplexing Work of Convictions goes before real Conversion and as it produceth many other Effects and Changes in the mind so it may do this of great Fervency in Vocal Prayers especially if it be accompanied with outward Afflictions Pains or Troubles Psal. 78.34 35. 3. Oft-times the Mind and Affections are very little concerned in that Fervour and Earnestness which appear in the outward Performance of the Duty But in the exercise of Gifts and through their own utterance men put their Natural Affections into such an Agitation as shall carry them out into a great Vehemency in their Expressions It hath been so with sundry Persons who have been discovered to be Rotten Hypocrites and have afterwards turned Cursed Apostates Wherefore all these things may be where there is no gracious Spring or Vital Principle Acting it self from within in Spiritual Thoughts Some it may be will design an Advantage by their Conceptions unto the Interest of Prophaneness and Scoffing For if there may be these evils under the Exercise of the Gift of Prayer both in Constancy and with Fervency if there may be a total want of the Exercise of all true Grace with it and under it then it may be all that is pretended of this Gift and its Use is but Hypocrisie and Talk But I say 1. It may be as well pretended that because the Sun shining on a Dung-hill doth occasion offensive and noisom Steams therefore all that is pretended of its Influence on Spices and Flowers causing them to give out their Fragrancy is utterly false No man ever thought that Spiritual Gifts did change or renew the Minds and Natures of Men where they are alone they only help and assist unto the useful Exercise of Natural Faculties and Powers And therefore where the Heart is not savingly renewed no Gifts can stir up a saving Exercise of Faith But where it is so they are a means to cause the Savour of it to flow forth 2. Be it so that there may be some Evils found under the Exercise of the Gift of Prayer what remedy for them may be proposed Is it that men should Renounce their use of it and betake themselves unto the Reading of Prayers only 1. The same may be said of all Spiritual Gifts whatever for they are all of them liable unto Abuse And shall we reject all the Powers of the World to come the whole complexe of Gospel Gifts for the Commuication whereof the Lord Christ hath promised to continue his Spirit with his Church unto the end of the World because by some they are abused 2. Not only the same but far greater evils may be found in and under the Reading of Prayers which needs no further Demonstration than what it gives of it self every Day 3. It is hard to understand how any benefit at all can accrew unto any by this Relief when the Advantages of the other way are evident Wherefore the Enquiry remains How we may know unto our own satisfaction that the Thoughts we have of Spiritual things in the Duty of Prayer are from Internal fountain of Grace and so are an evidence that we are Spiritually minded whereunto all these things do tend Some few things I shall offer towards Satisfaction herein 1. I take it for granted on the Evidence before given that Persons who have any Spiritual Light and will diligently Examine and Try their own Hearts will be able to discern what real Actings of Faith of Love and Delight in God there are in their Duties and consequently what is the Spring of their Spiritual Thoughts In general we are assured that he that believeth hath the Witness in himself 1 Joh. 5.10 Sincere Faith will be its own Evidence And where there are Sincere Actings of Faith they will evidence themselves if we try all things impartially by the Word But if men do as for the most part they do content themselves with the Performance of any Duty without an Examination of their Principles Frames and Actings of Grace in them it is no wonder if they walk in all Uncertainty 2. When the Soul finds a sweet Spiritual Complacency in and after its Duties it is an Evidence that Grace hath been acted in its Spiritual Thoughts and Desires Jer. 31. The Prophet receiveth a long gracious Message from God filled up with Excellent Promises and Pathetical Exhortations unto the Church The whole is as it were summ'd up in the close of it Ver. 25. For I have satiated the weary Soul and I have replenished every sorrowful Soul Whereon the Prophet adds Vpon this I awaked and beheld and my Sleep was sweet unto me God's gracious Message had so composed his spirits and freed his mind from Trouble as that he was at quiet Repose in himself like a man asleep But after the end of it he stirrs up himself unto a Review and Consideration of what had been spoken unto him I awaked and beheld or I stirred up my self and considered what had been delivered unto me And saith he my Sleep was sweet unto me I found a gracious Complacency in and Refreshment unto my Soul from what I had heard and received So is it oft-times with a Soul that hath had real Communion with God in the Duty of Prayer It finds it self both in it and afterwards when it is awakened unto the consideration of it spiritually refreshed it is sweet unto him This holy Complacency this Rest and sweet Repose of mind is the Foundation of the Delight of Believers in this Duty They do not pray only because it is their Duty so to do nor yet because
us Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of Glory Where Christ evidenceth his Presence with us he gives us an infallible hope of Glory he gives us an assured Pledge of it and worketh our Souls unto an expectation of it Hope in general is but an uncertain Expectation of a future Good which we desire But as it is a Gospel Grace all uncertainty is removed from it which would hinder us of the Advantage intended in it It is an earnest Expectation proceeding from Faith Trust and Confidence accompanied with longing desires of Enjoyment From a Mistake of its Nature it is that few Christians labour after it exercise themselves unto it or have the benefit of it For to live by Hope they suppose inferres a State not only beneath the Life of Faith and all assurance in believing but also exclusive of them They think to hope to be saved is a condition of men who have no grounds of Faith or Assurance But this is to turn a Blessed fruit of the Spirit into a common Affection of nature Gospel Hope is a fruit of Faith Trust and Confidence Yea the height of the actings of all Grace issues in a well grounded hope nor can it rise any higher Rom. 5. 2 3 4 5. Now the Reason why men have no more use of no more benefit by this excellent Grace is because they do not abide in Thoughts and contemplation of the things hoped for The especial Object of Hope is Eternal Glory Col. 1.27 Rom. 5.2 The peculiar use of it is to support comfort and refresh the Soul in all Trials under all weariness and Despondencies with a firm expectation of a speedy entrance into that Glory with an earnest desire after it Wherefore unless we acquaint our selves by continual Meditation with the Reality and Nature of this Glory it is impossible it should be the Object of a vigorous active Hope such as whereby the Apostle says we are saved Whithout this we can neither have that Evidence of Eternal things nor that valuation of them nor that preparedness in our minds for them as should keep us in the exercise of Gracious Hope about them Suppose sundry Persons engaged in a Voyage unto a most remote Countrey wherein all of them have an Apprehension that there is a place of Rest and an Inheritance provided for them Under this Apprehension they all put themselves upon their Voyage to possess what is so prepared Howbeit some of them have only a general Notion of these things they know nothing distinctly concerning them and are so busied about other affairs that they have no leisure to inquire into them or do suppose that they cannot come unto any satisfactory knowledge of them in particular and so are content to go on with general Hopes and Expectations Others there are who by all possible means acquaint themselves particularly with the nature of the Climate whither they are going with the Excellency of the Inheritance and Provision that is made for them Their Voyage proves long and wearisome their Difficulties many and their Dangers great and they have nothing to relieve and encourage themselves but the Hope and expectation of the Countrey whither they are going Those of the first sort will be very apt to despond and faint their general hopes will not be able to relieve them But those who have a distinct Notion and Apprehension of the State of things whither they are going and of their incomparable Excellency have alwayes in a readiness wherewith to chear their minds and support themselves In that Journey or Pilgrimage wherein we are ingaged towards an Heavenly Countrey we are sure to meet with all kinds of dangers difficulties and Perils It is not a general Notion of Blessedness that will excite and work in us a spiritual refreshing Hope But when we think and Meditate on future Glory as we ought that Grace which is neglected for the most part as unto its benefit and dead as unto its exercise will of all others be most Vigorous and active puting it self forth on all occasions This therefore is an inestimable Benefit of the Duty exhorted unto and which they find the Advantage of who are really Spiritually minded 3. This alone will make us ready for the Cross for all sorts of Sufferings that we may be exposed unto There is nothing more necessary unto Believers at this season than to have their minds furnished with provision of such things as may prepare them for the Cross and Sufferings Various Intimations of the mind of God Circumstances of Providence the present State of things in the World with the instant Peril of the latter dayes do all call them hereunto If it be otherwise with them they will at one time or other be wofully surprized and think strange of their Trials as if some strange thing did befall them Nothing is more usefull unto this end than constant Thoughts and contemplations of Eternal things and future Glory From thence alone can the Soul have in a readiness what to lay in the Ballance against all sorts of Sufferings When a Storm begins to arise at Sea the Mariners bestir themselves in the Management of the Tackling of the Ship and other Applications of their Art for their safety But if the Storm encrease and come to extremity they are forced to forego all other means and betake themselves unto a Sheat-Anchor to hold their Ship steady against its violence So when a Storm of Persecution and Troubles begins to arise men have various wayes and considerations for their Relief But if it once comes to extremity if Sword Nakedness Famine and Death are inevitably coming upon them they have nothing to betake themselves unto that will yield them solid Relief but the consideration and Faith of things Invisible and Eternal So the Apostle declares this State of things 2 Cor. 4. 16 17 18. the words before insisted on For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal He lays all sorts of Afflictions in one Scale and on the consideration of them declares them to be light and but for a moment Then he layes Glory in the other Scale and finds it to be ponderous weighty and Eternal an exceeding weight of Glory In the one is Sorrow for a little while in the other Eternal Joy In the one Pain for a few moments in the other everlasting Rest In the one is the loss of some few temporary things in the other the full fruition of God in Christ who is all in all Hence the same Apostle casts up the account of these things and gives us his Judgment concerning them Rom. 8.18 For I
of the divine Nature our dependance on him and relation unto him And this is that which in the first place Believers design in all the Duties of divine Worship And the Pattern set us by our Blessed Saviour in the Prayer he taught his Disciples directs us thereunto All the first Requests of it concern immediately the Glory of God and the Advancement thereof For therein also all the Blessedness and Safety of the Church is included Those who fail in this design do err in all that they do they never tend unto the mark proposed unto them But this is that which principally animates the Souls of them that believe in all their Duties this their universal Relation unto him and Love in that Relation makes necessary Wherefore that way and means whereby they may directly and solemnly ascribe and give Glory unto God is pretious and delightful unto them And such are all the duties of divine Worship These are some of the things wherein the respect of Affections Spiritually renewed unto Ordinances and Duties of divine Worship doth differ from the Actings of Affections towards the same Object which are not so santifyed and renewed There are yet other things accompanied with the same Evidence of the difference between Affections Spiritually renewed and those which have only a general Change wrought in them by Convictions and some outward Occasions which must in one or two Instances more be insisted on with the Consideration of such Cases as derive from them For my design herein is not only to declare when our Minds are Spiritually renewed but also what is the nature and operation of our Affections whereby we are constituted and denominated Spiritually-Minded which is the Subject of our whole Enquiry Herein then we shall proceed CHAP. XVI Assimulation unto things Heavenly and Spiritual in Affections Spiritually renewed This Assimulation the Work of Faith How and whereby Reasons of the want of Growth in our Spiritual Affections as unto this Assimulation WHen Affections are Spiritually renewed in their Exercise or fixing of themselves on Spiritual things There is an Assimulation wrought in them and in the whole Soul unto those Spiritual and Heavenly things by Faith But when there is a Change in them only from other Causes and Occasions and not from Renewing Grace there is an Assimulation effected of Spiritual and Heavenly Things unto themselves unto those Affections by Imagination This must somewhat at large be spoken unto as that which gives the most eminent Distinction between the Frames of Mind whose difference we enquire into And to that end we shall cast our consideration of it into the ensuing Observations First Affections Spiritually renewed are in all their Actings in their whole Exercise under the Guidance and Conduct of Faith It is Faith which in its Spiritual Light hath the leading of the Soul in the whole Life of God we live here by Faith as we shall do hereafter by Light If our Affections deviate or decline in the least from the Guidance of the Faith they degenerate from their Spirituality and give up themselves unto the Service of Superstition Next unto corrupt secular Interest in the management of crafty selfish Seducers this hath been the great in-let of all Superstition and false Worship into the World Blind Affection groping in the dark after Spiritual Things having not the Saving Light of Faith to conduct them have seduced the Minds of Men into all manner of Superstitions Imaginations and Practices continuing to do so at this day And wherever they will lead the way when Faith goeth not before them to discover both way and end they that lead and the Mind that is led must fall into one Snare and Pit or another Wherefore Affections that are Spiritually renewed move not act not but as Faith discovers their Object and directs them unto it It is Faith that works by Love we can love nothing sincerely with divine Love but what we believe Savingly with Divine Faith Let our Affections unto any Spiritual Things be never so vehement if they spring not from Faith if they are not guided by it they are neither accepted with God nor will promote the Interest of Spirituality and Holiness in our own Souls Heb. 11.6 Mat. 6.22 23. And this is the reason whence we oft times see great and plausible Appearances of Spiritual Affections which yet endure only for a Season They have been awakened excited acted by one means or another outward or inward but not having the Light of Faith to guide them unto their proper Object they either wither and dye as unto any appearing of Spiritual Motions or else keep the Mind tossed up and down in perpetual disquietment without rest or Peace The foolish Man wearieth himself because he cannot find the way to the City So was it with them who on the account of their Attendance unto the Doctrine of Christ are called his Disciples Joh. 6. Having preached unto them about the Bread which came down from Heaven and giveth Life unto them that feed they were greatly affected with it and cryed out Lord evermore give us of this Bread v. 34. But when he proceeded to declare the Mystery of it they having not Faith to discern and apprehend it their Affections immediately decayed and they forsook both him and his Doctrine vers 66. We may consider one especial Instance of this nature Persons every day fall under great and effectual Convictions of Sin and of their danger or certain Misery thereby This stirs up and acts all their Affections especially their Fears Hopes Desires Sorrow Self-Revenge according as their Condition calls for them Hence sometimes they grow restless in their Complaints and turn themselves every way for relief like men that are out of the way and bewildred in the night But in this State and Condition tell them of the only proper way and means of their Relief which let the World say what it will is Christ and his Righteousness alone with the Grace of God in him and they quickly discover that they are strange things unto them such as they do not understand nor indeed approve They cannot see them they cannot discern them nor any Beauty in them for which they should be desired Wherefore after their Affections have been tossed up and down for a season under the Power and Torment of this Conviction they come unto one or other of these Issues with them For either they utterly decay and the Mind looseth all sense of any Impressions from them so as that they wonder in themselves whence they were so foolish as to be tossed and troubled with such melancholy Fancies and so commonly prove as bad a sort of Men as live upon the Earth or they take up in a formal legal Profession wherein they never attain to be Spiritually-Minded This is the best end that our Affections towards Spiritual things not guided by the Light of Faith do come unto Secondly Faith hath a clear prospect into and Apprehension of Spiritual things