382 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART I.
watch against, to conflict with, and to seek a conquest over. But it is this internal vanity of mind that endeavours in all things to be- tray us, to weaken us in all our graces, or to hinder their due opera- tion, and to open the doors of our hearts unto our cursed enemies. If our principal endeavour be not to discover, suppress, and destroy this traitor, we shall not succeed in our spiritual warfare.
This, therefore, being the original cause of all that disability of mind, as unto steadiness in holy thoughts and meditations, whereof you do complain, when you are affected therewith turn unto the con- sideration of that from whence it doth proceed. “Labour to be hum- bled greatly, and to walk humbly, under a sense of the remainders: of this vanity of mind. So some wholesome fruit may be taken from this bitter root, and meat may come out of this eater. If, when you cannot abide in holy thoughts of God and your relation unto him, you reflect on this cause of it, to your farther humiliation and self-abasement, your good design and purpose are not lost. Let such an one say, “I began to think of God, of his love and grace in Christ Jesus, of my duty towards him; and where now, in a few minutes, do I find myself? Iam got unto the ends of the earth, into things useless and earthly, or am at such a loss as that I have no mind to proceed in the work wherein I was engaged. ‘O wretched man that I am!’ what a cursed enemy have I withm me! I am ashamed of myself, weary of myself, I loathe myself. ‘Who shall deliver me from this body of death?’” Such thoughts may be as useful unto him as those which he first designed.
True it is, we can never be freed absolutely from all the effects of this vanity and instability of mind in this world. Unchangeable cleaving unto God always, in all the powers and affections of our minds, is reserved for heaven. But yet great degrees may be attained ~ in the conquest and expulsion of it, such as I fear few have expe- rience of, yet ought all to labour after. If we apply ourselves as we ought to the increase of spiritual light and grace; if we labour dili- gently to abide and abound in thoughts of spiritual things, and that in love to them and delight in them; if we watch against the enter- tainment and approbation of such thoughts and things in our minds as whereby this vain frame is pleased and confirmed,—there is, though not an absolute perfection, yet a blessed degree of heavenly minded- ness to be attained, and therein the nearest approach unto glory that in this world we are capable of. Ifa man cannot attain an athletic constitution of health, or a strength like that of Samson, yet, if he be wise, he will not omit the use of such means as may make him to be useful in the ordinary duties of life; and although we cannot attain perfection in this matter,—which yet is our duty to be continu- ally pressing after,—yet, if we are wise, we will be endeavouring such
CHAP. X.]_ RULES FOR ABIDING IN THOUGHTS OF GOD. 383
a cure of this spiritual distemper as that we may be able to discharge all the duties of the life of God. But if men in all other things feed the vanity of their own minds; if they permit them to rove continu- ally after things foolish, sensual, and earthly; if they wilfully supply them with objects unto that end, and labour not by all means for the mortification of this evil frame,—in vain shall they desire or ex- pect to bring them at any time, on any occasion, to be steady in the thoughts of heavenly things. If it be thus with any, as it is to be feared it is with many, it is their duty to mind the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the first place, “ Make the tree good, and the fruit will be good,” and not before. When the power of sanctifying grace hath made the mind habitually spiritual and heavenly, thoughts of such things will be natural unto it, and accompanied with delight; but they will not be so until the God of peace have sanctified us in our whole spirits, souls, and bodies, whereby we may be preserved blameless unto the coming of Jesus Christ.
Secondly, Be always sensible of your own insufficiency to raise in your minds or to manage spiritual thoughts, or thoughts of things spiritual and heavenly, in a due manner. But in this case men are apt to suppose that as they may so they can think of what they please. Thoughts are their own, and therefore, be they of what sort they will, they need no assistance for them. They cannot think as they ought, they can do nothing at all; and nothing will convince them of their folly until they are burdened with an experience of the contrary, as unto spiritual things. But the advice given is ex- pressly laid down by the apostle, in the instance of himself: 2 Cor. iii. 5, “ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” He speaks principally -of ministers of the gospel, and that of such as were most eminently furnished with spiritual gifts and graces, as he declares, verse 6. And if it be so with them, and that with respect unto the work and duties of their calling, how much more is it so with others who have not their graces nor their office! Wherefore if men, without regard unto the present actual grace of God and the supplies of his Spirit, do suppose that they can of themselves exercise their minds in spiri- tual thoughts, and so only fret at themselves when they fall into dis- appointment, not knowing what is the matter with them, they will live in a lifeless, barren frame all their days.