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
and make our Souls meet for the Reception and entertainment of him Wherefore 3. Our want of experience in the power of this Holy entercourse and communion with Christ ariseth principally from our Defect in this Duty I have known one who after a long Profession of Faith and Holiness fell into great Darkness and distress meerly on this account that he did not experience in himself the Sweetness Life and Power of the Testimonies given concerning the real Communications of the Love of Christ unto and the intimation of his Presence with Believers He knew well enough the Doctrine of it but did not feel the Power of it at least he understood there was more in it than he had experience of God carryed him by Faith through that Darkness but taught him withal that no sence of these things was to be let into the Soul but by constant Thoughtfulness and Contemplations on Christ. How many blessed visits do we lose by not being exercised unto this Duty See Cant. 5.1 2 3. Sometimes we are busie sometimes careless and negligent sometimes slothful sometimes under the power of Temptations so that we neither enquire after nor are ready to receive them This is not the way to have our Joyes abound Again I speak now with especial respect unto him in Heaven The Glory of his Presence as God and Man eternally united the Discharge of his Mediatory Office as he is at the right hand of God the Glory of his present acting for the Church as he is the Minister of the Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle which God hath fixed and not Man the Love Power and Efficacy of his Intercession whereby he takes care for the Accomplishment of the Salvation of the Church the approach of his Glorious coming unto Judgment are to be the Objects of our daily Thoughts and Meditations Let us not mistake our selves To be spiritually minded is not to have the Notions and Knowledge of spiritual things in our minds it is not to be constant no not to abound in the performance of Duties both which may be where there is no Grace in the Heart at all It is to have our Minds really exercised with delight about Heavenly things the things that are above especially Christ himself as at the right hand of God Again So think of eternal things as continually to lay them in the Ballance against all the sufferings of this Life This use of it I have spoken unto somewhat before and it is necessary it should be pressed upon all occasions It is very probable that we shall yet suffer more than we have done Those who have gone before us have done so it is foretold in the Scripture that if we will live Godly in Christ Jesus we must do so we stand in need of it and the World is prepared to bring it on us And as we must suffer so it is necessary unto the Glory of God and our own Salvation that we suffer in a due manner Meer sufferings will neither commend us unto God nor any way advantage our own Souls When we suffer acording to the will of God it is an eminent Grace Gift and Priviledge Psal. 1.29 But many things are required hereunto It is not enough that men suppose themselves to suffer for Conscience sake though if we do not so all our sufferings are in vain Nor is it enough that we suffer for this or that way of Profession in Religion which we esteem to be true and according to the Mind of God in opposition unto what is not so The Glory of Sufferings on these accounts solely hath been much sullied in the dayes wherein we live It is evident that Persons out of a natural Courage accompanied with deep radicate perswasions and having their minds influenced with some sinister ends may undergo things hard and difficult in giving Testimony unto what is not according to the Mind of God Examples we have had hereof in all Ages and in that wherein we live in an especial manner See 1 Pet. 4.14 15 16. We have had enough to take off all paint and appearance of Honour from them who in their sufferings are deceived in what they profess But men may from the same Principles suffer for what is indeed according to the Mind of God yea may give their bodyes to be burned therein and yet not to his Glory nor their own eternal Advantage Wherefore we are duely to consider all things that are requisite to make our sufferings acceptable unto God and honourable unto the Gospel I have observed in many a frame of Spirit with respect unto sufferings that I never saw good event of when it was tryed to the uttermost Boldness confidence a pretended contempt of hardships and scorning other men whom they suppose defective in these things are the Garments or Livery they wear on this Occasion Such Principles may carry men out in a bad Cause they will never do so in a good Evangelical Truth will not be honourably witnessed unto but by Evangelical Graces Distrust of our selves a due apprehension of the nature of the evils to be undergone and of our own frailty with continual Prayers to be delivered from them or supported under them and prudent care to avoid them without an inroad on conscience or neglect of Duty are much better preparations for an entrance into a state of Suffering Many things belong unto our Learning aright this first and last Lesson of the Gospel namely of bearing the Cross or undergoing all sorts of sufferings for the Profession of it But they belong not unto our present Occasion This only is that which we now press as an evidence of our sincerity in our sufferings and an effectual means to enable us chearfully to undergo them which is to have such a continual prospect of the future state of Glory so as to lay it in the Ballance against all that we may undergo For 1. To have our Minds filled and possessed with Thoughts thereof will give us an Alacrity in our entrance into sufferings in a way of Duty Other considerations will offer themselves unto our Relief which will quickly fade and disappear They are like a Cordial Water which gives a little Relief for a Season and then leaves the Spirits to sink beneath what they were before it was taken Some relieve themselves from the consideration of the Nature of their Sufferings they are not so great but that they may conflict with them and come off with safety But there is nothing of that kind so small which will not prove too hard and strong for us unless we have especial Assistance Some do the same from their Duration they are but for ten dayes or six months and then they shall be free Some from the Compassion and esteem of Men. These and the like considerations are apt to occur unto the minds of all sorts of Persons whether they are spiritually minded or no. But when our Minds are accustomed unto Thoughts of the Glory that shall be
Many a good Beginning hath been utterly ruined by this occasion and Temptation Privacy and Opportunity have overthrown many such persons in the best of their Resolutions And they are so unto all persons not yet flagitiously wicked Cursed fruits proceed every day from these Occasions We need no other Demonstration of their Power and Efficacy in Tempting unto sin but the visible Effects of them And what they are unto any they may be unto all if not diligently watched against So the Apostle reflects on the shameful things that are done in the dark in a concurrence of Secresie and Opportunity This therefore gives a Just season unto Thoughts of the Omnipresence and Omniscience of God and they will not be wanting in some measure in them that are spiritually minded God is in this place the darkness is no darkness unto him Light and Darkness are with him both alike are sufficient considerations to lay in the Ballance against any Temptation springing out of Secresie and Opportunity One Thought of the actual presence of the holy God and the open view of his all-seeing eye will do more to cool those Affections which Lust may put into a tumult on such occasions than any other consideration whatever A speedy Retreat hereunto upon the first perplexing Thought wherewith Temptation assaults the Soul will be its strong Tower where it shall be safe 2. A second Season calling for the Exercise of our minds in Thoughts of the Omnipresence and Omniscience of God is made up of our Solitudes and Retirements These give us the most genuine Tryals whether we are spiritually minded or no. What we are in them that we are and no more But yet in some of them as in Walking and Journeyings or the like vain Thoughts and foolish Imaginations are exceeding apt to solicit our minds Whatever is stored up in the Affections or Memory will at such a time offer it self for our present entertainment And where men have accustomed themselves unto any sort of things they will press on them for the possession of their Thoughts as it were whether they will or no. The Psalmist gives us the way to prevent this evil Psal. 16.7 8. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel my reins also instruct me in the night season I have set the Lord alwayes before me because he is at my Right hand His Reins that is his Affections and secret Thoughts gave him counsel and instructed him in all such seasons But whence had they that wisdom and faithfulness In themselves they are the seat of all Lusts and Corruptions nor could do any thing but seduce him into an evil frame It was from hence alone that he set the Lord alwayes before him Continual Apprehensions of the presence of God with him kept his Mind his Heart and Affections in that Awe and Reverence of him as that they alwayes instructed him unto his Duty But as I remember I spake somewhat as unto the due management of our Thoughts in this Season before 3. Times of great Difficulties Dangers and Perplexities of mind thereon are a season calling for the same Duty Suppose a man is left alone in his Tryals for the Profession of the Gospel as it was with Paul when all men forsook him and no man stood by him Suppose him to be brought before Princes Rulers or Judges that are fill'd with Rage and armed with Power against him all things being disposed to affect him with dread and terrour It is the Duty of such a one to call off his Thoughts from all things visibly present and to fix them on the Omnipresence and Omniscience of God He sits amongst those Judges though they acknowledge him not He rules over them at his pleasure He knows the cause of the Oppressed and justifies them whenever the world condemns and can deliver them when he pleaseth With the Thoughts hereof did those holy Souls support themselves when they stood before the fiery countenance of the bloody Tyrant on the one hand and the burning fiery Furnace on the other Dan. 3.14 Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the Golden Image which thou hast set up Thoughts of the Presence and Power of God gave them not only comfort and supportment under their distress when they were alone and helpless but Courage and Resolution to defie the Tyrant to his face And when the Apostle was brought before Nero that Monster of cruelty and villany and all men forsook him he affirms that the Lord stood by him and strengthened him 2 Tim. 4.17 He refreshed himself with Thoughts of his presence and had the blessed fruit of it Wherefore on such occasions when the Hearts of men are ready to quake when they see all things about them fill'd with dread and Terrour and all help far away it is I say their duty and wisdom to abstract and take off their Thoughts from all outward and present appearances and to fix them on the presence of God This will greatly change the Scene of things in their minds and they will find that Strength and Power and Wisdom are on their side alone all that appears against them being but vanity folly and weakness So when the Servant of Elisha saw the place where they were compassed with an Host both Horses and Chariots that came to take them he cryed out for fear Alas my Master how shall we do But upon the prayer of the Prophet the Lord opening the eyes of the young man to see the Heavenly guard that he had sent unto him the mountain being full of Horses and Chariots of fire round about Elisha his fear and trouble departed 2 Kings 6.15 16 17. And when in the like Extremity God opens the Eye of Faith to behold his glorious Presence we shall no more be afraid of the dread of men Herein did the Holy Martyrs triumph of Old and even despised their bloody Persecutors Our Saviour himself made it the ground of his supportment on the like occasion John 16.32 Behold saith he to his Disciples his only Friends the hour cometh yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every one to his own and leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me Can we but possess our Souls with the Apprehension that when we are left alone in our tryals and dangers from any countenance of Friends or help of men yet that indeed we are not alone because the Father is with us it will support us under our despondencies and enable us unto our Duties 4. Especial Providential warnings call for Thoughts of Gods Omnipresence and Omniscience So Jacob in his nightly Vision instantly made this Conclusion God is in this place and I knew it not We have frequently such warnings given unto us Sometimes we have so in