OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 349 But that which we shall now inquire into, is the true notion and consideration of spiritual and heavenly things, which renders them the formal proper object of spiritual affections, and is the reason of their adher- ence to them. For, as wás intimated before, men may have false notions of spiritual things, under which they may like them and embrace them with unrenewed affec- tions. Wherefore we shall inquire into some of those considerations of heavenly things, under which affec- tions, spiritually renewed, satisfactorily cleave to with delight and complacency. (1.) And the first is, that as they comprehend God in Christ, and in all other things, as deriving from him, and tending to him, they have an infinite beauty, goodness, and amiableness in them, which are power- fully attractive of spiritual affections, and which alone are able to fill them, to satisfy them, to give them rest and acquiescency. Love is the most ruling and preva- lent affection in the whole soul : but it cannot be fixed on any object without an apprehension., true or false, of an amiableness and desirableness in it, from a good- ness suitable to ail its desires. And our fear, so far as it is spiritual, hath divine goodness for its object, Hos. iii. 5. Unless this be that which draws our hearts to God, and the things of God, in all pretences of love to him, men do but frame idols to themselves, acéording to their ownunderstand- ing, as the prophet speaks, Hos. xiii. 2. Wherefore, that our affections may cleave to spiritual things in a due manner, three things are required. (1.) That we apprehend, and do find a goodness, a beauty, and thence an amiableness and desirableness in them, Zech. ix. 17. Manypretend to love God and spiritual things, but they know not why. Why they 30
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