OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 315 they reach forth unto the things that are yet before them; like men running in a race, whose prize and reward is yet before them.' Phil. iii. 13, 14. It is a comely thing to see a Christian weaned from the world, minding heavenly things, green and flourishing in spiritual affection. And it is the more lovely be- cause it is so rare. The generality of them take up with those measures which neither glorify God, nor bring durable peace to their own souls. That which men pretend and complain of herein, is the difficulty of the work. They can, as they sappose, preserve their present station ; but to press forward, to grow in grace, to thrive in their affections, this is too hard for them. But this complaint is unequal and unjust, and adds to the guilt of their sloth. It reflects upon the words of our Saviour, that his yoke is easy, and his burden light, that his commandments are not grievous. It expresseth unbelief in the promises of God, tendering such supplies of grace, as to render all the ways of wisdom easy, yea, mercy and peace. It is contrary to the experience of all who have, with any sincerity and diligence, engaged in the ways of gospel obedience ; and the whole cause ofthe pretend- ed difficulty lies in themselves alone, which maybe re- duced to these two heads,. First. A desire to retain some thing, or things, that is, or are, inconsistent with such a progress : for unless the heart be ready on all occasions to esteem every thing as loss and dung, so as we may win Christ, the work will be accompanied with insuperable difficulties. This is the first principle of religion, of gospel obedi- ence, that all things are to be despised for Christ. But this difficulty ariseth not from the thing itself, but from our indisposition to it and unfitness for it. That which
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