above,” Col. iii. 1. 2dly. Here lies the great means whereby we may attain farther degrees in that blessed frame of mind, if it be already formed in us, by virtue of that rule, “ Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory,” 2 Cor. iii. 18. 8dly. Here lies the great evidence whether we have a real interest in the things above or no, whether we place our portion and blessedness in them, by virtue of that rule, “ Where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.” Are they our treasure, our portion, our reward, in comparison whereof all other things are “but loss and dung?”—we shall assuredly be conversant in our minds about them. 4thly. It cannot be imagined that a man should have in him a principle cognate and suited unto things above, of the same
342 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART L.
kind and nature with them, that his soul should be under the con- duct of those habits of grace which strive and naturally tend unto ~ perfection, labouring greatly here under the weight of their own weaknesses, as it is with all who are truly spiritually minded, and yet not have his thoughts greatly exercised about these things, 1 John iii. 2, 3.
Tt were well if we would try ourselves by things of so uncontrol- lable evidence. What can any object unto the truth of these things or the necessity of this duty? If it be otherwise with us, it is from one of these two causes :—either we are not convinced of the truth and reality of them, or we have no delight in them because we are not spiritually minded. Do we think that men may turmoil themselves in earthly thoughts all the day long, and, when they are freed of their affairs, betake themselves unto those that are vain and useless, with- out any stated converse with things above, and yet enjoy life and peace? We must take other measures of things if we intend to live , unto God, to be like him, and to come unto the enjoyment of him.
What is the matter with men that they are so stupid? They all generally desire to go to heaven, at least when they can live here no longer. Some, indeed, have no other regard unto it but only that they would not go to hell. But most would “die the death of the righteous,” and have their “latter end like his;” yet few there are who endeavour to attain a right notion of it, to try how it is suited unto their principles and desires, but content themselves with such general notions of it as please their imaginations. It is no wonder if such persons seldom exercise their minds or thoughts about it; nor do they so much as pretend to be spiritually minded. But as for those who are instructed in these things, who profess their chiefest interest to he in them, not to abound in meditation concerning them, it argues, indeed, that whatever they profess, they are earthly and carnal.
[3.] Again; meditate and think of the glory of heaven so as to com- pare rt with the opposite state of death and eternal misery. Few men care to think much of hell, and the everlasting torments of the wicked therein. Those do so least who are in the most danger of falling thereinto. They put far from them the evil day, and sup- pose their covenant with death and hell to be sure. Some begin to advance an opinion that there is no such place; because it is their interest and desire that there should be none. Some, out of profane- ness, make a scoff at it, as though a future judgment were but a fable. Most seem to think that there is a severity in thoughts about it, which it is not fit we should be too much terrified withal. Some transient thoughts they will have of it, but [they do] not suffer them to abide in their minds, lest they should be too much discomposed; or they think it not consistent with the goodness of Christ to leave any
CHAP. VL] DIRECTIONS FOR OUR THOUGHTS ON THINGS ABOVE, 343
men in that condition, whereas there is more spoken directly of hell, its torments and their eternity, by himself than in all the Scripture besides. These thoughts, in most, proceed from an unwillingness to be troubled in their sins, and are useful unto none. It is the height of folly for men to endeavour the hiding of themselves for a few moments from that which is unavoidably coming upon them unto eternity, and the due consideration whereof is a means for an escape from it. But I speak only of true believers; and the more they are conversant in their thoughts about the future state of eternal misery, the greater evidence they have of the life and confidence of faith. It is a necessary duty to consider it, as what we were by nature obnoxious unto, as being “children of wrath;’ what we have deserved by our personal sins, as “ the wages of sin is death;” what we are delivered from through Jesus the deliverer, who “saves us from the wrath to come;” what expression it is of the indignation of God _against sin, who hath “ordained Tophet of old,’—that we may be delivered from sin, kept up to an abhorrency of it, walking in humi- lity, self-abasement, and the admiration of divine grace. This, there- fore, is required of us, that in our thoughts and meditations we com- pare the state of blessedness and eternal glory, as a free and absolute effect of the grace of God in and through Christ Jesus, with that state of eternal misery which we had deserved; and if there be any spark of grace or of holy thankfulness in our hearts, it will be stirred up unto its due exercise.