OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 375 have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. The law, or the word of God, is the only way of the revelation of God, and his will to us, and the only outward way and rule of our converse and com- munion with him. Wherefore, to love the law, is the principal part of our being heavenly minded, yea, vir- tually that which comprehends the whole : for to such as do so, nothing, none of the thingsbefore mentioned, nor any other of the like nature, shall be an offence, a stumbling block, or cause of falling into sin. And the reason is, because they have such an experience in themselves of the truth, power, efficacy, and holi- ness of the gospel, as that the miscarriages of men, under a profession of it, shall never be to them an oc- casion of falling, or being offended at Christ. And 1 look upon it as a sign of a very evil frame of heart, when men are concerned in the miscarriages of some that have made profession, whereby they are, it may be, damaged in their outward concerns, so as that they are surprised into reflections on that religion which they profess, professing the same themselves. (2.) The second is afflictions, persecutions, and sufferings of all sorts. It is known by all, (it were well if it were not so well known,) what disquiet- ments, dejections, and disconsolations, these things are apt to fill the minds of men with ; what fears, troubles, sorrows, they reflect upon them. Against all these effects of them, this peace intended gives us security. It makes us preserve a peaceable, yea, a joyous life in our conflict with them. See Job xvi. 33. Both these, as here joined together, life and peace, comprise a holy frame of heart and mind, wherein the souls of believers find rest, quietness, refreshment, and satisfaction in God, in the midst of temptations, afilic-
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