482 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. [PART II. .
interest nor concern. But this is that which giveth life unto the af- fections of believers; they know that in the enjoyment of God in Christ their eternal blessedness doth consist. How this is their hap- piness and glory, how it will give them an everlasting, overflowing satisfaction and rest, they understand in the first-fruits of it which they here receive. And this is the ultimate object of their affections in this world, and they go forth unto all other spiritual things in order hereunto. The more, therefore, their affections are fixed on them, the more they are kept up unto that due exercise, the nearer approaches they make unto this blessed state. When their minds are possessed with this persuasion, when it is confirmed in them by daily experience of that sweetness, rest, and satisfaction, which they find in cleaving unto God with fervent love and delight, in vai shall any other objects rise up in competition to draw them off unto them- selves. The more we love God, the more like we are unto him, and the more near the enjoyment of him.
CHAPTER XX.
[The application of the soul unto spiritual objects. ]
III. Havine considered the nature of spiritual affections as renew- ed by grace, and those notions of their objects under which they cleave unto them, it remains only that we inquire into the way of the soul’s application of itself unto those objects by its affections, which belongs also unto our being spiritually minded; and I shall give an account hereof in some few particulars, with brief observations on them :—
1. It is required that our adherence unto all spiritual things with love and delight be firm and stable. The affections are the powers and instruments of the soul, whereby it makes application unto any thing without itself, and cleaves unto it. This is their nature and use with reference unto things spiritual. Transient thoughts of spi- ritual things, with vanishing desires, may rise out of present convic- tions, as they did with them who cried out unto our Saviour, “ Lord, evermore give us this bread,’ and immediately left him. Such occasional thoughts and desires are common unto all sorts of men, yea, the worst of them: “ Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!” Fading satisfaction, with joy and delight, do often befall men in their attendance on the word, who yet never come to have it rooted in their hearts.
There are sundry things wanting unto the sincerity of these affec- tions :—
(1.) Those in whom they are never had a clear spiritual view of
CHAP. XX.] THE SOUL’S APPLICATION UNTO SPIRITUAL OBJECTS. 483
the things themselves in their own nature which they pretend to be affected withal.
(2.) They have not a sincere love unto them and delight in them _ for their own sakes, but are only affected with some outward circum- stances and concernments of them.
(3.) They find not a switableness in them unto the ruling prin- ciples of their minds. They do not practically, they cannot truly say, “The yoke of Christ is easy, and his burden is light; his command- ments are not grievous;” or, with the psalmist, “O how love I thy law!”
(4.) Their affections are transient, unstable, vanishing, as unto their exercise and operations. They are on and off; now pleased and anon displeased; earnest for a little while, and then cold and indifferent. Hence the things which they seem to affect have no transforming efficacy upon their souls; they dwell not in them in their power.
But where our affections unto spiritual things are sincere, where they are the true, genuine application of the soul and adherence unto them, they are firm and stable; love and delight are kept up unto such a constant exercise as renders them immovable. This is that which we are exhorted unto, 1 Cor. xv. 58, “'Therefore, my be- loved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Transient affections, with their occasional ope- rations, deceive multitudes; ofttimes they are as pregnant in their actions as those that are most sincere; and many effects, in joys, in mournings, in complaints, they will produce, especially when excited by any outward affliction, sickness, and the like ;—but their goodness is like the early cloud or morning dew. Let none, therefore, please themselves with the operations of transient affections with respect unto spiritual things, be they never so urgent, or so pleasant, or so frequent in their returns; those that are sincere are at all times firm and stable.
2. That the soul do find a spiritual relish and savour in the things which it so adheres unto. The affections are the palate of the soul, whereby it tastes of all things which it receiveth or refuseth, and it will not long cleave unto any thing which they find not a savour and relish in. Something was spoken before of that sweet- ness which is in spiritual things, and the taste of them consists in a gracious sense of their suitableness unto the affections, inclinations, and dispositions of the mind. Hence they have no relish unto men of carnal minds. Whoever, therefore, would know whether his affec- tions do sincerely adhere unto spiritual things, let him examine what relish, what sweetness, what savour he findeth in them. When he