306 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. Secondly. Gradual as to its increase ; and therein faith works in and by the affections. Whenever the affections cleave intensely to any object, they receive an impression from it, as the wax doth from the seal when applied to it, which changeth them into its own likeness. So the apostle affirms of sensual unclean persons; they have eyes full of adul- tery, 2 Pet. ii. 14. Their affections are so whollypos- sessed and filled with their lustful objects, as that they have brought forth their own likeness upon their ima- ginations. That blots out all others, and leaves them no inclinations bat what they stir up in them. When men are filled with the love of this world, which car- ries along with it all their other affections, theirhopes, fears, and desires, to a constant exercise about the same object, they become earthly minded. Their minds are so changed into the image of the things 'themselves, by the effectual working of the corrupt principles of sin, self-love, and lust, as if they were made up of the earth, and therefore have no savor of any thing else. In like manner, when by faith men come to embrace heavenly things, through the effectual working of a principle of spiritual life and grace in them, they are every day more and more made heavenly. The inward man is renewed day by day. Love is more sincere and ardent, delight is more ravishing and sensible, desires are more enlarged and intense, and by all a taste and relish of heavenly things is heightened into refreshing experience. See Rom. v. 2 -5. This is the way whereby one grace is added to another, 2 Pet. i. 5, 6, in degrees. Great is the assim- ilation between renewed affections and their spiritual objects, that by this means may be attained.
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