OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 145 all. It is to have our minds really exercised with de- light 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 balance against all the sufferings of this life. This use of it I have spoken to somewhat before ; and it is necessary it should be pressed upon all occa- sions. 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 to the glory of God and our own salvation, that we suffer in due manner. Mere sufferings, will neither commend us to God, nor any way advantage our own souls. When we suffer according to the will of God, it is an eminent grace, gift, and privilege. Phil. i. 29. But many things are required hereto. 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 to what is not so. The glory of sufferings on these accounts solely,` hath been much sullied in the days wherein we live. It is evident that persons, out of a na- tural courage, accompanied with deep radical persua- sions, and having their minds influenced with some si- nister ends, may undergo things hard and difficult, in giving testimony to what is not according to the mind of God. Examples wehave hadhereof in all ages, and in that wherein we live in an especial manner. See 1 Pet. iv, 14-16. Wehave had enoughto take offall paint 13
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