Ol SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 149 comparison thereunto at their utmost extent are but for a moment. I have insisted the longer on these things, because they are the peculiar object of the thoughts of them that are indeed spiritually minded. CHAPTER VIII. Spiritual thoughts of God himself. The opposition to them, and neglect of them ; with their causes, and the way of their prevalency. Predominant corruptions expelling due thoughts of God, how to be discovered, .5,^c. Thoughts of God, of what nature, and what they are to be accompanied with, 4.c. I HAVE spoken very briefly to the first particular instance of the heavenly things that we are to fix our thoughts upon, namely, the personof Christ : and I have done if for the reason before mentioned, namely, that I intend a particular treatise on that subject, or an inqui- ry how we may behold the glory of Christ in this life, and howwe shall do so to eternity. That which I have reserved to the last place, as to the exercise of their thoughtsabout who ar'e spirituallyminded, is that which is the absolute foundation and spring of all spiritual things, namely, God himself. He is the fountain whence all these things proceed, and theoceanwherein they issue he is the centre and circumference where- in they all begin, meet, and end. So the apostle is sues his profound discourse of the counsels of the di- vine will and mysteries of the gospel, Rom. xi. 36. " Of him, and through him, and to him are all things) to whom be glory for ever." All things arise from his power, and are disposed by his wisdom into a tenden- cy to his glory ; " of him, and through him, and to him 13*
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=