476 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART IL.
goodness and love of God in Christ, as thereby alone to be drawn after him, and to delight in him! yet is this the ground of all sin- cere, real love unto God. Two things are required that we may apprehend an amiable goodness in any thing, and cleave unto it with sincere affection:—[1.] A real worth or eacellency in ttself; [2.] A suitableness therein unto our condition, state, and desires after rest and blessedness. The first of these is in God, from what he is in himself; the latter is from what he is unto us in Christ ;—from both he is the only suitable object unto our affections. Under this appre- hension do we love God for himself, or for his own sake, but not ex- clusively unto our own advantage therein; for a desire of union and enjoyment, which is our only advantage, is inseparable from this love.
It may be, some cannot say that a distinct apprehension of these things was the first foundation and cause of their love to God; yet are they satisfied that they do love him in sincerity, with all their souls. And I say it may be so. God sometimes casts the skirt of his own love over the heart of a poor sinner, and efficaciously draws it unto himself, without a distinct apprehension of these things, by a mere sense of the love it hath received. So Elijah passed by Elisha, and cast his mantle upon him, as a transient act; but there was such a communication of virtue thereby that he ran after him, and would not be deferred, though Elijah said, “Go back again; for what have I done to thee?” 1 Kings xix. 19, 20. When God hath so cast his love on any soul, it follows after him with all its affections, And whereas God may seem at some times to say, “ Go back again ; for what have I done unto thee?” its answer is, “ Lord, whither shall I go? I cannot leave thee; my heart is given up unto thee, and shall never be taken from thee.”
But I say unto such, and-to all others, that if we would have re- freshing evidences of our love unto God that it is sincere, if we would have it thrive and flourish, be fervent and constant, we are to exercise ourselves unto the contemplation of the divine goodness, and the suitableness of it unto our souls, in and by Jesus Christ. Nor can we cleave unto any spiritual thing whatever with sincere affection but under these notions of it:—first, That it hath a real worth or excellency in itself; secondly, That it is suctable and de- sirable unto us. And it is to be bewailed to see how many walk at random in profession, that know neither what they do nor where they go.
(2.) As we must see a goodness and profitableness in spiritual things absolutely, so as that we may fix our affections on them in a due manner, so we must see it comparatively, with respect unto all other things, which gives them a preference in our affections before and above them all. The trial of love lies in the prevailing degree,—
CHAP. XIX.] THE TRUE NOTION OF SPIRITUAL OBJECTS. 477
on more or less. If we love other things, father, mother, houses, lands, possessions, more than Christ, we do not love him at all. Nor is there any equality allowed in this matter, that we may equally love temporal and spiritual things. If we love not Christ more than all these things, we love him not at all. Wherefore, that our affections may cleave unto them in a due manner, we must see an excellency in things spiritual and heavenly, rendering them more desirable than all other things whatever.
With what loving countenances do men look upon their temporal enjoyments! with what tenacious embraces do they cleave unto them! They see that in them which is amiable, which is desirable and suit- able unto their affections. Let them pretend what they please, if they see not a greater goodness, that which is more amiable, more desirable, in spiritual things, they love them not in a due manner; it is temporal things that have the rule of their affections. One psalmist prefers “Jerusalem before his chief joy,” Ps. exxxvii. 6. Another affirms that “the law of God’s mouth was better unto him than thousands of gold and silver,’ Ps. cxix. 72. “More to be desired are the statutes of the Lorp than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb,” Ps. xix.10. “For wis- dom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it,” Prov. viii. 11. This is the only stable foun- dation of all divine affections. A spiritual view and judgment ofa goodness, an excellency in them, incomparably above whatever is in the most desirable things of this world, are required thereunto. And if the affections of many pretending highly to them should come to be weighed in this balance, I fear they would be found light and wanting. However, it is the duty of them who would not be de- ceived in this matter,—which is of eternal importance,—to examine what is that goodness and excellency which is in spiritual things, which they desire in them, upon the account whereof they do sin- cerely value and esteem them above all things in this world what- ever. And let not any deceive themselves with vain words and pretences. Whilst their esteem and valuation of present enjoyments doth evidently engage all their affections, their care, their diligence, their industry, so as that a man of a discerning spirit may even feel them turned into self; whilst they are cold, formal, negligent about spiritual ‘things,—we must say, “ How dwelleth the love of God in them?’ Much more when we see men not only giving up the whole of their time and strength, with the vigour of their spirits, but sacri- ficing their consciences also, unto the attaining of dignities, honours, preferments, wealth, and ease in the world, who know in their own hearts that they perform religious duties with respect unto temporal advantages, I cannot conceive how it is possible they should discern