ii 134 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. be under the conduct of those habits of grace, which strive after, and naturally tend to, perfection, laboring greatly here under the weight of their own weakness- es, (as it is with all who are truly spiritually minded,) andyet not have his thoughts greatly exercised about these things. 1 John iii. 3. It were well if we would try ourselves by things such of uncontrolable evidence. What can any object to the truth of these things, or the necessity of this duty ? If it be otherwise with us, it is from one of these two causes ; either we are not convinced of the truth and reality of them, or we have no delight in them, because we are not spiritually minded. Do we think that men may turmoil themselves in earthly thoughts all the day long, and when they are freed of theiraffairs, betake themselves to those that are vain and useless, without any stated converse with things above, and yet enjoy life and peace ? We must take other measures of things, if we intend to live to God, to be like him, and to come to the enjoyment of him. What is the matter with men: that they are so stu- pid? They all generally desire to go to heaven, at least when they can live here no longer. Some, in- deed, have no other regard to it, but only that they would not go to hell. But most would die the death of the righteous, and have their latter end like his ; yet few there are who endeavor to attain a right no- tion of it, to try how it is suited to their principles and desires ; but content themselves with such general notions of it as please their imaginations. It is no wonder if such persons seldom exercise their minds or thoughts about it, nor do they so much as pretend to be spiritually minded. But as for those who are Instructed in these things, who profess their chiefest same kind andnature with thee* that his soul should
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