OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 263 they never so urgent, or so pleasant, or so frequent in their returns ; those that are sincere, are at all times firm and stable. 2. That the soul do find a spiritual relish and savor in the things which it so adheres to. The affections are the palate of the soul, whereby it tastes of all things which it receiveth or refuseth ; and it will not long cleave to any thing which they find not a savor and relish in. Something was spoken before of that sweetness which is in spiritual things ; and the taste of them consists in a gracious sense of their suitable- ness to the affections, inclinations, and dispositions of the mind. Hence they have no relish to men of carnal minds. Whoever, therefore, would know whether his affections do sincerely adhere to spiritual things, let him examine what relish, what sweetness, what savor he fn.deth in them. When he is pleased with them as the palate with suitable and proper food, when he finds that he receives nourishment by them in the inward man, then doth he adhere to them in a due manner. The spiritual taste is the ground of all experience ; it is not what we have heard or understood only, but what we have tried and tasted, whereof we have expe- rience. This makes us long for what wehave formerly enjoyed, and strengthens faith, as to what we pray for and expect. In every darkness, in every damp of spirit, under every apprehension of deadness, or the withdrawing of the sense of divine love, the soul knoweth what it wants, and what it doth desire. O ! saith such an one, that it were nowwith me as in former days! I know he who then gave me such refreshing tastes of his own goodness, who made every thing of himself sweet and
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