348 of SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. of his person, and in the glory of his meditation, are the only things that they dislike in religion. False representations of him by images and pictures, they may embrace ; and delight in false notions of his pre- sent glory, greatness, and power, may affect them'; a worship of their own devising they may give to him, and please themselves in it; corrupt opinions con- cerning his office and grace, may possess their minds, and they may contend for them ; but thóse who are not spiritually renewed, cannot love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity:: yea, they have an inward secret aversion from the mystery of his person and his grace. It is self which all their affections centre in, the ways `whereof are too long here to be declared. This is the first thing that is required, to 'render our affections in such a state and condition, as that from and by them we may be spiritually minded, namely, that they themselves are spiritually and savingly re- newed. The things that remain will admit of a speedy dis- patch, as I suppose. CHAPTER, XIX. THE second thing required that we may be spiritu- ally minded, as to the interest of our affections there- in, is the object of them about which they are conver- sant; and whereto they adhere. What this is materi- ally, or what are the spiritual things which our affec- tions are to be set upon, hath been declared, already, under theconsideration of the object, of our thoughts and meditations, for they are the same. Yea, as hath been intimated, the fixing of our affections upon them is the spring and cause of our tho.ughts about them.
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