OF SPIBIIRJAL MINDEDNESS". ór: Here lies the ground of their self-deceivings; they are the professors of the Gospel in a peculiar manner; they judge themselves believers; they hope they shall be saved, and have many evidences for it. But one negative evidence, will render an hundred that are positive, useless. All these things have I done, saith the young man; yet one thing thou wantest, saith our Saviour ; and the want of that one, rendered his all things of no avail to him. Many things you have done, many things youdo, many grounds of hope abide with you; neither yourselves nor others doubt of your con- dition ; but are you spiritually minded l If this one thing be wanting, all the rest will not avail you; you have indeed neither life nor peace. And what grounds have you to judge that you are so, if the current of your thoughts lie in direct contrariety to the present calls of God ? If at such a time as this is, your love to the world be such as ever it was, and perhaps be in- creased ; if your desires are strong to secure the things of this life to you and yours ; if the daily contrivance of your minds be, not how you may attain a constant resignation of yourselves and your all unto the will of God, which will not be done without much thoughtful- ness and meditation on the reasons of it and motives to it, I cannot understand how you can judge your- selves to be spiritually minded. If any therefore shall say, that they would abound more in spiritual thoughts, only they know not whatto fix them upon; I propose this, in the first place, as that which will lead them to the due performance of pre- sent duties. Secondly. The special trials and temptations of men, call for the exercise of their thoughts in a peculiar manner, with respect to them. If a man hath a bodily á
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