OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 33 Every man bath a treasure in his heart; that is, a prevailing inexhaustible principle of all his actingsand operations : but in some this treasure is good ; in others it is evil; that is, the prevailing principle in the heart, which carries along with it its dispositions and incli- nations, is in some good and gracious, in others it is evil. Out of this good treasure, a good man bringeth forth good things. The first opening of it, the first bringing of it forth, is by these thoughts. The thoughts that arise out of the heart, are of the same nature with the treasure that is in it. If the thoughts that naturally arise and spring up in us, are for the most part vain, foolish, sensual, earthly, selfish, such is the treasure that is in our hearts, and such are we. But where the thoughts that thus naturally proceed from the treasure that is in the heart, are spiritual and holy, it is an argument that we are spiritually minded. Where it is not thus withour thoughts, theygive no such evidence as that inquired after. Men may have thoughts of spiritual things, and that many of them, and that frequently, which do not arise from this prin- ciple, but may be resolved into two other causes : -1. Inward force ; 2. Outward occasions. 1. Inward force, as it may be called. This is by convictions. Convictions put a kind of force upon the mind ; or an impression, that causeth it to act con- trary unto its own habitual disposition and inclination. It is in the nature of water to descend: but apply an instrument unto it, that shall make a compression of it, and force it unto a vent, it will fly upwards vehe- mently, as if that were its natural motion; but so soon as the force of the impression ceaseth, it returns immediately unto its own proper tendency, descending
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