2. Faith hath a clear prospect into and apprehension of spiri- tual things, as they are in themselves and in their own nature. It
CHAP, XVI.] ASSIMILATION UNTO HEAVENLY THINGS. 447
is true, the light of it cannot fully comprehend the nature of all those things which are the objects of its affections: for they are infinite and incomprehensible, such as are the nature of God and the person of Christ; and some of them, as future glory, are not yet clearly re- vealed. But it discerns them all in a due manner, so as that they may in themselves, and not in any corrupt representation or imagi- nation of them, be the objects of our affections. They are, as the apostle speaks, “ spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor. ii. 14; which is the reason why the natural man cannot receive them,—namely, because he hath not ability spiritually to discern them. And this is the prin- cipal end of the renovation of our minds, the principal work and - effect. of faith,—namely, the communication unto our minds and the acting in us of a spiritual, saving light, whereby we may see and dis- cern spiritual things as they are in their own nature, kind, and pro- per use. See Eph. i. 17-19, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and re- velation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” 2 Cor. iv. 6, “God shineth in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” The end God designs is, to draw our hearts and affections unto himself; and unto this end he gives unto us a glorious internal light, whereby we may be enabled to discern the true nature of the things that we are to cleave unto with love and delight. Without this we have nothing but false images of spi- ritual things in our minds; not always as unto the truth or doctrine concerning them, but as unto their reality, power, and efficacy. This is one of the principal effects of faith, as it is the principal part of the renovation of our minds,—namely, to discover in the soul and represent unto the affections things spiritual and heavenly, in their nature, beauty, and genuine excellency. This attracts them if they be spiritually renewed, and causeth them to cleave with delight unto what is so proposed unto them. He that believes in Christ in a due manner, who thereon discovers the excellency of his person and the glory of his mediation, will both love him, and, on his believing, “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” So is it im all - _other instances. The more steady is our view by faith of spiritual things, the more firm and constant will our affections be in cleaving unto them; and wherever the mind is darkened about them, by temptation or seduction from the truth, there the affections will be quickly weakened and impaired. Wherefore,—
3. Affections thus led unto and fixed on spiritual and heavenly
448 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART IL.
things, under the light and conduct of faith, are more and more renewed, or made in themselves more spiritual and heavenly. They are, in their cleaving unto them and delight in them, continually changed and assimilated unto the things themselves, becoming more and more to be what they are,—namely, spiritual and heavenly. —
This transformation is wrought by faith, and is one of its most excellent faculties and operations. See 2 Cor. iii. 18. And the means whereby it works herein are our affections. In them as we are carnal, we are conformed unto this world; and by them as we are sanctified are we “transformed by the renewing of our mind,” Rom. xii. 2. And this transformation is the introduction of a new form or nature into our souls, diverse from that wherewith we were before endued. So - is it described, Isa. xi. 6-9. A spiritual nature they were changed into. And it is twofold:—First, Original and radical as to the sub- stance or essence of it, which is the effect of the first act of divine grace upon our souls when we are made new creatures. Herein our affections are passive; they do not transform us, but are transformed. Secondly, Gradual as unto its increase; and therein faith works in and by the affections.
Whenever the affections do cleave intensely unto any object they receive an impression from it,—as the wax doth from the seal when applied unto it,—which changeth them into its own likeness. So the apostle affirms of sensual, unclean persons, they “have eyes full of adultery,” 2 Pet. ii 14, Their affections are so wholly possessed and filled with their lustful objects as that they have brought forth their own likeness upon their imaginations. That blots out all others, and leaves them no inclinations but what they stir up in them, When men are filled with the “love of this world,” which carries along with it all their other-affections, their hopes, fears, and desires, unto a constant exercise about the same object, they become earthly minded. Their minds are so changed into the image of the things themselves, by the effectual working of the corrupt principles of sin, self-love and lust, as if they were made up of the earth; and there- fore have no savour of any thing else. :