OF SPIRITUAL MINDËDNESS. 17b CHAPTER IX. What of God or in God we art to think and meditate upon. His being ; reasons of it; oppositions to it ; the way of their conquest. Thoughts of the omnipre< Bence and omniscience of God, peculiarly necessary. The reasons hereof, As also of his omnipotency.-- The use and benefit ofsuch thoughts. THESE things mentioned have been premised in gë neral, as to the nature, manner, and way of exercise of our thoughts on God. That which remains, is to give some . particular instances of what we are to think upon in an especial manner; and what we are conver- sant with in our thoughts, if so be we are spiritually minded. And I shall not insist at present on the things which concern his grace and love in Christ Je- sus, which belong to another head, but on those which have an immediate respect to the divine nature itself, and its holy essential properties. 1. The abounding of atheism, both notional and practical. The reasons of it have been given before, and the matter of fact is evident to any ordinary ob- servation. And on two accounts with respect hereto we ought to abound with thoughts of faith concerning the being of God. (1.) An especial testimony is re. quired in us, in opposition to this effect of hell. He, therefore, who is spiritually minded, cannot but have many thoughts of the being of God, thereby giving glory to him. Isa. xliii. 9-12. ' Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled t who among them can declare this, and showus former things`? let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; or let them hear and say; it is truth. Ye
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