118 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. CHAPTER VI. Directions unto the exercise of our thoughts on things above ; things future, invisible, and eternal ; on God himself, with the difficulties of it, and oppositions unto it, and the way of their removal. Right notions of future Glory stated. WE have treated in general, before, of the proper ob- jects of our spiritual thoughts as to our present duty. That which we were last engaged in, is an especial in- stance in heavenly things; things future and invisible, with a fountain and spring of them all in Christ and God himself. Andbecause men generally are unskilled herein, and great difficulties arise in the way of the discharge of this part of the duty in hand, I shall give some especial directions concerning it. 1. Possess your minds with right notions and ap- prehensions of things above, andof the state of future glory. We are in thisduty to look at the things which are not seen. 2 Cor. iv. 16. It is faith only whereby we have a prospect of them ; for we walk by faith, and not by sight. And faith can give us no interest in them, unless we have due apprehensions of them; for it doth but assent and cleave to the truth of what is proposed unto it. And the greatest part of mankind both deceive themselves, and feed on ashes, in this matter : they fancy a future state, which hath no foun- dation but in their own imaginations. Wherefore the apostle, directing us to seek and mind the things that are above, adds, for the guidance of our thoughts, the consideration of the principal concernment of them where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Col. 1, 2. He wouldl ead us to distinct apprehensions of
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