OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 205 fire burned ; then spake I with my tongue :' which place was spoken to before. 3. An holy constraint put on the mind to abide in the duty of spiritual thoughtsand meditations; press- ing it continually with the consideration of their ne- cessity and usefulness. The mind will be apt of itself to start aside from duties purely spiritual, through the mixture of the flesh abiding in it The more inward and purely spiritual any duty is, which hath no out- ward advantages, the more prone will the mind be to decline from it. It will be so, more from private prayer than public, more frommeditation than prayer. And other things will be apt to draw it aside from ob- jects without, and various stirrings of the affections within. An holy constraint is to be put upon it, with a sudden rejection of what rises up to its diversion or disturbance. Wherefore, we are to call in all con- straining motives, such as the consideration of the love of Christ, 2 Cor.. v. 14, to keep the mind steady to its duty. 4. Diligent use of means to furnish the soul with that light and knowledge of heavenly things, which may administer continual matter of holy thoughts and meditations, from within ourselves. This bath been spoken to at large before. And the want hereof is that which keeps many from the least proficiency in these duties. As a man may have some skill or ability for atrade, yet if he have no materials to work upon, he must sit still, and let his trade alone. And so must men do to the work of holy meditation: whatever be the ability of the natural faculties, their inventions or memories, if they are not furnished with knowledge of things spiritual and heavenly, which are the subject matter of such meditations, they must let their work 18
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