OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 263 is in the same kind in nothing else. Therefore is the Lord Christ, even as to his human nature, the object of our love and affections, in such a way and degree as no other thing, spiritual or eternal, but God him, self, is or ought to be ; all other spiritual things be- come so from the presence of God in them ; and from the degree of that presence have they their nature and use. Accordingly they are, or ought to be, the object of our affections, as to the degree of their exercise: Evidence of the presence of God in things and per- sons, is the only attractive of renewed affections. Thirdly. In those things which seem to stand in an equality as to what is of God in them, yet on some especial occasions and reasons, our love may go forth eminently to one more than another. Some particu- lar truth, with the grace communicated by it, may have been the means of our conversion to God, of our edi- fication in an especial manner, of our consolation in distress; it cannot be, but that the mind will have a peculiar respect to, and valuation of, such truths, and the grace administered by them. And so it is as to duties. We may have found sucha lively intercourse and communion with God in some of them, as may give us a peculiar delight in them. But notwithstanding these differences, affections, spiritually renewed, do cleave to all spiritual things, as such. For the true formal reason of their so do- ing, is the same in them all, namely, God in them ; only they have several ways of acting themselves to- wards them, whereof I shall give one instance. Our Saviour distributes spiritual things into those that are heavenly, and those that are earthly, that is, comparatively so. John iii. 12, ' If I have 'told you
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