100 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. relish to our hearts, as the first fruits of glory, that we cannot but desire, on all opportune occasions, to be in the full enjoyment of them, faith seems to have had its effectual work herein upon us. For want of these things, many among us walk in disconsolation all their days. 2. It will gradually give the heart an acquaintance with the especial nature and use of these things. Gen- eral thoughts and notions of heaven and glory do but fluctuate up and down in the mind, and very little influ- ence it to other duties; but assiduous contemplation will give the mind such distinct apprehensions of heavenly things, as shall duly affect it with the glory of them. Themore we discern of the glory and ex- cellency of them in their own nature, of their suitable- ness unto ours, as our only proper rest andblessedness, as the perfection and complement of what is already begun in us by grace, of the restless tendency of all gracious dispositions and inclinations of our hearts towards their enjoyment, the more will faith be estab- lished in its cleaving unto them; so in the contempla- tion of these things consist the principal food of faith, whereby it is nourished and strengthened : and we are not to expect much work where there is not pro- vision of proper food for them that labor. No won- der if we find faith faint and weak in the work it hath to do, which oft-times is great and weighty, if we neglect to guide it daily to that which should admin- ister strength to it. (2.) It will give life and exercise to the grace of hope. Hope is a glorious grace, whereunto blessed effects are ascribed in the Scripture, and an effectual operation to the support and consolation of believers ; by it are we purified, sanctified, saved; and, to sumup
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