'338 ÓF SPIitiTÚAL MINDEDNESS. 'minds so affected with spiritual things aswas the mind of Christ, is the principal part of our duty and grace. Nor do I think that any man can attain any considera- ble degree in spiritual mindedness, who is not much in the contemplationof the same mind that was in Christ, 2Cor. iii. 18. To this purpose, ought we to furnish our minds with instances of the holy affections that were in Christ, and their blessed exercise on all `occasions. The scripturemakes a full representation 'of them to us, and we ought to be conversant in our meditations on them. What glorious things are spo- ken of his love to God, and his delight in him, whence also he delighteth to do his will, and his law was in the midst of his bowels, Psal. xl. 8, seated in the throne of his affections ! What pity and compassion had he for the souls of men, yea, for the whole human kind, in all their sufferings, pains and distresses ! How were all his affections always in perfection of order, under the conduct of the spirit of his mind ! Thence was his self- denial, his contempt of the world, his readi- ness for the .cross, to do or suffer according to the will '-of God. If this pattern be continually before us, it will put forth a transforming efficacy to change us into the same image. When we find our minds liable to any disorders, cleaving inordinately to the things of this world, moved with intemperate passions, vain and frothy in conversation, darkened or disturbed by the fumes of distempered lusts, let us call things to an account, and ask of ourselves, whether this be the frame of mind that was in Christ Jesus ? This, therefore, is an evidence that our affections are spirit- ually renewed, and that they have received some pro- gress in an assimilation to heavenly things : namely,
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