218 " THE GRACt AND DUTV OF
2. Unto this Spirit there is (^p6vi]}.ia ascribed, which, as we have intimated, is translated with great variety. ^p6vr]aiQ, is the principal power and act of the mind. It is its light, wisdom, prudence, knowledge, understanding, and discre- tion. It is not so with respect unto speculation, or ratio- cination merely ; which is Smvom, or (rvvemg. But this ^povijCFig is its power as it is practical, including the habi- tual frame and inclination of the affections also. It is its faculty to conceive of things with a delight in them and ad- herence unto them, from that suitableness which it finds in them unto all its affections. Hence we translate <f>povHv sometimes ' to think/ that is, to conceive and judge, Rom. xii. 3. Sometimes to ' set the affections,' Col. iii. 2. to have such an apprehension of things as to cleave unto them with our affections. Sometimes * to mind ;' ' to mind earthly thino;s,' Phil. iii. 19. which includeth that relish and savour which the mind finds in the things it is fixed on. Nowhere doth it design a notional conception of things only ; but principally the engagement of the affections unto the things which the mind apprehends.
^povrtfia, the word here used, expresseth the actual exer- cise, Tr\q (ppovmewg, of the power of the mind before described. Wherefore, the minding of the Spirit is the actual exercise of the mind as renewed by the Holy Ghost, as furnished with a principle of spiritual life and light in its conception of spi- ritual things, and the setting of its affections on them, as finding that relish and savour in them, wherewith it is pleased and satisfied.
And something we must yet farther observe, to give light unto this description of the minding of the Spirit, as it is here spoken of.
1. It is not spoken of absolutely as unto what it is in itself, but with respect unto its power and prevalency in us ; significantly rendered, 'to be spiritually minded ;' that is, to have the mind changed and renewed by a principle of spiritual life and light, so as to be continually acted and influenced thereby unto thoughts and meditations of spiritual things, from the affections cleaving unto them with delight and sa- tisfaction. So on the contrary it is, when men mind earthly things. From a principle of love unto them, arising from their suitableness unto their corrupt affections, their thoughts.
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uieditatious, and desires, are continually engaged about them. Wherefore,
2. Three things may be distinguished in the great duty of being spiritually minded, under which notion it is here recommended unto us.
1. The actual exercise of the mind in its thoughts, medi- tations, and desires, about things spiritual and heavenly. So is it expressed in the verse foregoing. ' They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh;' they think on them, their contrivances are about them, and their desires after them. ' But they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.' They mind them by fixing their thoughts and meditations upon them.
2. The inclination, disposition, and frame of the mind, in all its affections, whereby it adheres and cleaves unto spi- ritual things. This minding of the Spirit resides habitually in the affections. Wherefore, the ^povrifxa of the Spirit, or the mind as renewed and acted by a spiritual principle of light and life, is the exercise of its thoughts, meditations, and desires on spiritual things, proceeding from the love and delight of its affections in them, and engagement unto them.
3. A complacency of mind from that gust, relish, and savour which it finds in spiritual things, from their suitable- ness unto its constitution, inclinations, and desires. There is a salt in spiritual things, whereby they are condited and made savoury unto a renewed mind ; though to others they are as the white of an egg, that hath no taste or savour in it. In this gust and relish lies the sweetness and satisfaction of spiritual life. Speculative notions about spiritual things, when they are alone, are dry, sapless, and barren. In this gust we taste by experience that God is gracious, and that the love of Christ is better than wine, or whatever else hath the most grateful relish unto a sensual appetite. This is the proper foundation of that 'joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.'
All these things do concur in the minding of the Spirit, or to constitute any person spiritually minded. And although the foundation of the whole duty included in it lies in the af- fections, and their immediate adherence unto spiritual things, whence the thoughts and meditations of the mind about them do proceed, yet I shall treat of the distinct parts of this duty in the order laid down, beginning with the exercise of our
220 THE GRACE AXD DUTY OF
thoughts and meditations about them. For they being the first genuine actings of the mind, according unto the preva- lency of affections in it, they will make the best and most evident discovery of what nature the spring is from whence they do arise. And I shall not need to speak distinctly unto what is mentioned in the third place, concerning the com- placency of the mind in what its affections are fixed on, for it will fall in with sundry other things that are to be spoken unto.