54 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. grace hath been acted in its spiritual thoughts and de- sires, Jer. 31. The prophet receiveth a long gracious message from God, filled up with excellent promises and pathetical exhortations to the church. The whole is as it were summed up in the close of it, v. 24. 'For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have re- plenished every sorrowful soul.' Whereon the pro- phet adds, 'upon this I awaked, and beheld, and my sleep was sweet unto me.' God's gracious message had so composed his spirits, and freed his mind from trouble, that he was at quiet repose in himself, like a man asleep. But after the end of it, he stirs up him- self to a review and consideration of what had been spoken unto him: I awaked and beheld, or I stirred up myself, and considered what hadbeen delivered unto me ; and saith he, my sleep was sweet unto me ; I found a gracious complacency in, and refreshment unto my soul, from what I had heard and received. So is it oft-times with a soul that hathhad real commu- nion with God in the duty of prayer. It finds itself both in it, and afterwards, when it is awakened unto the consideration of it spiritually refreshed; it is sweet unto him. This holy complacency, this rest and sweet repose of mind, is the foundation of the delight of believers in this duty. They do not pray only because it is their duty so to do, nor yet because they stand in need of it, so as that they cannot live without it, but they have delight in it; and to keep them from it, is all one as to keep them from their daily food and re- freshment. Nowwe can have no delight in any thing but what we have found some sweetness, rest, and complacency in. Without any such experience, we may do or use any thing, but cannot do it with delight.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=