Owen - BV4501 O84 1844

OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 69 example of David in particular, that I have proposed- And it is a promise of the grace to be administered by the Gospel, that he who is feeble shall be as David. Zech. xii. 12-18. And if we are not so in his being spiritually minded, it is to be feared we are not parta- kers of the promise. But that we may the better judge of ourselves therein, I shall add some few rules to this direction by example. 1. Consider, what proportion your thoughts of spiri- tual things bear, with those about other things. Our principal interest and concern, as we profess, lie in things spiritual, heavenly and eternal. Is it not then a foolish thing to suppose, that our thoughts about these things should not hold some proportion with those about other things ; nay, that they should not exceed them ? No man is so vain in earthly things, as to pretend that his principal concern lieth in that whereof he thinks very seldom in comparison of other things. It is not so with men, in reference to their families, their trades, their occasions of life. It is a truth, not only consecrated by the testimony of him who is truth, but evident also in the light or reason, that where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. And the affections of our hearts do act them- selves by the thoughts of our minds. Wherefore, if our principal treasure be as we profess, in things spiri- tual and heavenly, and wo unto us if it be not so ! on themwill our affections, and consequently our desires and thoughts, be principally fixed. That we may the better examine ourselves by this rule, we must consider of what sort men's other thoughts are ; and as unto our present purpose, they may be reduced to these heads. L There are such as are exercised about their call-

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