304 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. cannot receive them, namely, because he hath not ability spiritually to discern them. And this is the principal end of the renovation of our minds, the prin- cipal quality and effect of faith, namely, the communi- cation to our minds, and the acting in us, of aspiritual saving light, wherebywe may see and discern spiritual things as they are in their own nature, kind, and proper use See Eph. i. 17-19. ` That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye'may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, accord- ing to the working of his mighty power.' 2 Cor. iv. 6. God shines in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ.' The end God designs, is to draw our hearts and affec- tions to himself. And to this end, he gives to us a glorious internal light, whereby we may be enabled to discern the true nature of the things that we are to cleave to with love and delight. Without this we have nothing but false images of spiritual things in our minds ; not always as to the truth or doctrine con- cerning them, but as to their reality, power, and effi- cacy. This is one of the principal effects of faith, as it is the principal part of the renovation of our minds, namely, to discover in the soul, and represent to the . affections, things spiritual and heavenly, in their nature, beauty, and genuine excellency. This attracts them, if they are spiritually renewed, and causeth them to cleave with delight to what is so proposed to them. He that believes in Christ in a due manner, who
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