278 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I.
avoid them. But the same sort of persons have thoughts of this nature arising from themselves only, their own dispositions and in- clinations, without any outward provocations. “The vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity,” Isa. xxxii.6; and this he doth as the “liberal deviseth liberal things,” verse 8. From his own disposition and inclination, he is contriving in his thoughts how to act according to them. So the unclean person hath two sorts of thoughts with respect unto the satisfaction of his lust:—First, such as are occasioned in his mind by the external objects of it. Hereunto stage plays, revellings, dancings, with the society of bold persons, persons of corrupt communication, do contribute their wicked service. For the avoidance of this snare, Job “made a covenant with his eyes,” chap. xxxi. 1; and our Saviour gives that holy declaration of the evil of it, Matt. v. 28. But he hath an habitual spring of these thoughts in himself, constantly inclining and disposing him thereunto. Hence the apostle Peter tells us that such persons “have eyes full of an adulteress, that cannot cease from sin,” 2 Hpist. 1. 14, Their own affections make them restless in their thoughts and con- trivances about sin. So is it with them who are given to excess in wine or strong drink. They have pleasing thoughts raised in them from the object of their lust represented unto them. Hence Solo- mon gives that advice against the occasion of them, Prov. xxiii. 31. But it is their own habitual disposition which carries them unto pleasing thoughts of the satisfaction of their lust; which he de- scribes, verses 33-35. So is it in other cases) The thoughts of this latter sort are men’s inward thoughts; and such must these be of spiritual things, whence we may be esteemed spiritually minded.
Ps, xlv. 1, saith the psalmist, “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the King.” He was meditating on spiritual things, on the things of the person and kingdom of Christ. Hence his heart “bubbled up” (as it is in the original) “a good matter.” It isan allusion taken from a quick spring of living waters: from its own life and fulness it bubbles up the water that runs and flows from it. So is it with these thoughts in them that are spiritually minded. There is a living fulness of spiritual things in their minds and affections that springeth up into holy thoughts about them.
From hence doth our Saviour give us the great description of spiritual life. It is “a well of living water springing up into ever- lasting life,” John iv. 10,12. The Spirit, with his graces residing in the heart of a believer, is a well of living water. Nor is it such a well as, content with its own fulness, doth not of its own accord, without any instrument or pains in drawing, send out its refreshing waters,
CHAP. I1.] EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. _ 279
as it is with most wells, though of living water; for this is spoken by our Saviour in answer and opposition unto that objection of the woman, upon his mention of giving living water, verse 10: “ Sir,” saith she, “thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence wilt thou have this water?” verse 11. “True,” saith he, “such is the nature of this well and water, dead, earthly things,—they are of no use, unless we have instruments, lines and buckets, to draw withal. But the living water which I shall give is of another nature. It is not water to be kept in a pit or cistern without us, whence it must be drawn; but it is within us, and that not dead and useless, but continually springing up unto the use and refreshment of them that have it.” For so is it with the principle of the new creature, of the new nature, the Spirit and his graces, in the hearts of them that do believe,—it doth of itself and from itself, without any external influence on it, incline and dispose the whole soul unto spiritual act- ings that tend unto eternal life. Such are the thoughts of them that are spiritually minded. They arise from the inward principle, incli- nation, and disposition of the soul,—are the bubblings of this well of living water; they are the mindings of the Spirit.
So our Saviour describes them, Matt. xii. 35, “ A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things”’ First, the man is good; as he said before, “ Make the tree good, or the fruit cannot be good,” verse 33. He is made so by grace, in the change and renovation of his nature; for in ourselves we are every way evil. This good man hath a treasure in his heart. So all men have; as the next words are, “ The evil man out of the evil treasure of the heart.” And this is the great difference that is between men in this world. Every man hath a treasure in his heart; that is, a prevailing, inexhaustible principle of all his actings and operations. But in some this treasure is good, in others it is evil; that is, the prevail- ing principle in the heart, which carries along with it its dispositions and inclinations, is in some good and gracious, in others it is evil. Out of his good treasure a good man bringeth forth good things. The first opening of it, the first bringing of it forth, is by these thoughts. The thoughts that arise out of the heart are of the same nature with the treasure that is in it. If the thoughts that naturally arise and spring up in us are for the most part vain, foolish, sensual, earthly, selfish, such is the treasure that is in our hearts, and such are we; but where the thoughts that thus naturally proceed from the treasure that is in the heart are spiritual and holy, it is an argu- ment that we are spiritually minded.