3. They are ajust repository of all graces, and therein the treasury of the soul. There are graces of the Spirit whose formal direct resi- dence is in the understanding and the will, as faith itself, and therein are all other graces radically comprised; they grow from that root, Howbeit, the most of them have their principal residence in the affections. In them are they preserved secure and ready for exercise on all occasions. And when they are duly spiritual, there is nothing that tends to their growth or improvement, to their cherishing or
472 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. . [PART Tl: -
quickening, which they stand in need of continually, and which God hath made provision for in his word, but they readily receive it, lay it up, keep and preserve it. Hereby they come to be filled with grace, with all graces,—for there is room in them for all the graces of the Spirit to inhabit,—and do readily comply with the light and direction of faith unto their exercise. When faith discerns and de- termines that there is any thing to be done or suffered in a way of duty unto the glory of God, the affections thus disposed do not shut up or stifle the graces that are in them, but carefully offer them unto their proper exercise.
These are some of those things which our affections, conformed unto heavenly things, will attain unto. And thus it is with affec- tions spiritually renewed: by being fixed on things spiritual and . heavenly, they are more and more conformed unto them, made like them, and become more spiritual and heavenly themselves.
It is not thus with them whose affections have only an occasional change wrought upon them by the means before described, but are not spiritually renewed; yea, on the contrary, such persons do design to debase spiritual things, to bring down heavenly things into a con- formity with their affections, which, however changed, are not spi- ritual, but carnal. To evince this we may observe,—
1. Their affections are under the light and conduct of such notions in the mind and understanding as do not give a clear, distinct re- presentation of them in their own nature unto them: for where they are not themselves spiritually renewed, there the mind itself is carnal and unrenewed; and such a mind “ perceiveth not the things of God, neither can do so, because they are spiritually discerned.” They cannot be discerned aright in their own beauty and glory, but in and by a spiritual, saving light, which the mind is devoid of. And where they are not thus represented, the affections cannot receive or cleave unto them as they ought, nor will ever be conformed unto them.
2. Those notions in such persons are ofttimes variously influenced and corrupted by fancy and imagination. They are merely “puffed up by their fleshly minds ;” that is, they are filled with vain, foolish, proud imaginations about spiritual things, as the apostle declares, Col. ii. 18,19. And the work of fancy, in a fleshly mind, is to raise up such images of spiritual things as may render them suitable unto natural, unrenewed affections.
3. This, in the progress of it, produceth superstition, false worship, and idolatry; for they are all of them an attempt to represent spiri- tual things in a way suited unto carnal, unrenewed affections. Hence men suppose themselves to be excited by them unto love, joy, fear, delight in the things themselves, when they all respect that false
CHAP. XVIII.] THE STATE OF SPIRITUAL AFFECTIONS. 473:
representation of them whereby they are suited unto them as carnal. These have been the spring of all false worship and idolatry in the Christian world.
1. The mind and affections have been changed and tinctured with devotion by some of the means we have before insisted on. Herein they will, one way or other, be exercised about spiritual things, and are ready to receive impressions from any thing that superstition can impose upon them.
2. They are, by error and false information, set at liberty from the only rule of their actings and exercise; that is, the word of God. Men satisfied themselves, that so their affections were engaged about things spiritual and heavenly, it was no matter at all whether the way of their exercise was directed by the Scripture or no. Having thus lost their guide and their way, every “ignis fatuus,” every wandering meteor, allures them to follow its conduct into foolish superstitions. Nothing almost is so ridiculous, nothing so horrid and difficult, that they will not embrace under the notion of things spiritual and heavenly.
3. The carnal minds of men, having no proper, distinct apprehen- sions and notions of spiritual things in their own nature, do endea- vour to represent them under such notions and images as may suit them unto their carnal, unrenewed affections; for it is implanted almost indelibly upon them, that the end of all knowledge of spiri- tual things is to propose them unto the embraces of the affections.
It were easy to manifest that from these three corrupt springs arose that flood of idolatry and false worship which spread itself over the church of Rome, and with whose machinations the minds of men are yet too much replenished.
4, Where it is not thus, yet carnal affections do variously debase spiritual things, to bring them into a conformity with themselves; and this may proceed so far, until men think wickedly that God is altogether like unto themselves. But I shall not insist on these things any farther.