OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 133 dom from all sin, in the perfection of all grace, in the vision of the glory of God in Christ, and all the ex- cellencies of the divine nature as manifested in him, are an effectual means for the improvement of spirit- ual life, and the increase of all graces in us; for they cannot but effect an assimilation in the mind and heart to the things contemplated on, where the principles and seeds of them are already inlaid and begun. This is our first direction. Secondly. Having fixed right notions and appre- hensions of heavenly things in our minds, it is our du- ty to think and contemplate greatly on them, and our own concernment in them. Without this, all our speculations concerning the nature of eternal things, will be of no use to us; and for your encouragement and direction, take these few short rules relating to this duty. (1.) Here lies the great trial, whether we are spiritually minded or not, by virtue of this rule ; if we are risen with Christ we will mind the things that are above. Col. iii. 3. (2.) This is the great means whereby we may attain further degrees in that blessed frame of mind, if it be already formed in us, by virtue of that rule ; beholding the glory of God as in a glass, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory. 2 Cor. iii. 18. (3.) Here lies the great evidence whether we have a real interest in the things above or not; whether we place our portionand blessedness in them, according to that rule ; whereour treasure is, there will our hearts be also. Are they our treasure, our portion, our reward, in .comparison whereof all other things are but loss and dung ? then we shall assuredly be conversant in our minds about them. 4. It cannot be imagined, that a man should have in him a principle suited to things above, of the 12
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=