OE SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS -> 33 when the soul is delighted in making Christ their pat- tern in all things. Secondly. The rule of our affections in their ut- most spiritual improvements, is the scripture. And two things are respected in them : (1.) Their internal actings. (2.) Their exercise in outward ways and means whereby they are expressed. Of them both, the scrip- ture is the entire rule. And with respect to the for- mer, it givesus one general law, or rule, that is com- prehensive of all others ; namely, that we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. The actings of all our affections towards God, in the utmost degree of perfection, is required of us ; that in aIl instances we prefer and value him above all things; that we inseparably cleave to him, and do nothing whatever, at any time, that is not influ- enced anddirected by the love of God. This perfec- tion, as we shall see immediately, is not attainable ab- solutely in this life; but it is proposed to us as that which the excellency of God's nature requires, which the powers and faculties of our nature were created for, and whichwe ought in all things to designand aim at. But the indispensable obligation of this rule is, that we should always be in a sincere endeavor to cleave to God continually in all things, to prefer him above all, and delight in him as our chiefest good. When this frame and disposition is habitually fixed in our minds, it will declare and act itself in all instances of duties, on all occasions of trial, when other things put in for a predominant interest in our affections, as they do eve- ry day. And if it be not so with us, we shall_ he at a continual loss in all our ways. This is that which makes us lifeless and heartless in duties, careless in
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=