96 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. Without doubt, the generality of Christians are greatly defective in this duty, partly for want of light in them, partly for want of delight in them; they think little of an eternal country. Wherever men are, they do not use to neglect thoughts of that country wherein their inheritance lies. If they are absent from it for a season, yet will they labor to acquaint themselves with the principal concernments of it. But this heavenly country, wherein lies our eternal in- heritance, is not regarded. Men do not as they ought, exercise themselves unto thoughts of things eternal and invisible: it were impossible if they did so, that their minds should be so earthly, and their affections cleave so as they do to present things. He that looks steadily on the sun, although he cannot bear the lustre of his beams fully, yet his sight is so affect- ed with it, that when he calls off his eyes from it, he can see nothing, as it were, of the things about him; they are all dark to him : and he who looks steadily in his contemplations on things above, eternal things, though he cannot comprehend their glory, yet a vail will be cast by it on all the desirable beauties of earthly things, and take off his affections from them. Men live and act under the power of a conviction, that there is a state of immortality and glory to come ; with a persuasion hereof they much relieve themselves in their sorrows, sufferings, and temptations; yet with many it is only a reserve, when they can be here no more; but as to daily contemplation of the nature and causes of it, or as unto any entrance into it by faith and hope, the most are strangers thereto. If we are spiritually minded, nothing will be more natural to us, than to have many thoughts of eternal things, as those wherein all our own principal concerns do lie, as well
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