2. A diligent endeavour to live in a holy resignation of our persons, our lives, our families, all our enjoyments, unto the sovereign will and wisdom of God ; so as that we may be in readiness to part with all things upon his call without repining. This also is plainly declared in the voice of pre- sent providences. God is making wings for men's riches, he is shaking their habitations, taking away the visible defences of their lives, proclaiming the instability and uncertainty of all things here below ; and if we are not minded to con- tend with him, we have nothing left to give us rest and peace for a moment, but a holy resignation of all unto his sove- reign pleasure.
Would you now know what you should fix and exercise your thoughts upon, so as that they may be evidences of your being spiritually minded ? 1 say, be frequently con-
268 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF
versant in them about these things. They lie before you, they call upon you, and will find you a just employment. Count them part of your business, allow them some part of your time, cease not until you have the testimony of your consciences, that you have in sincerity stated both these duties in your minds, which will never be done without many thoughts about them. Unless it be so with you, God will be greatly displeased at the neglect of his coming and call, now it is so plain and articulate. Fear the woful dooms recorded, Prov. i. 24 — 28. Isa. Ivi. 12. Ixvi. 4. to this purpose. And if any calamity, public or private, do overtake you under a neglect of these duties, you will be wofully surprised, and not know which way to turn for re- lief. This therefore is the time and season wherein you may have an especial trial and experiment whether you be spi- ritually minded or no. It is the wisdom of faith to excite and draw forth grace into exercise according unto present occasions. If this grace be habitually resident in you, it will put itself forth in many thoughts about these present duties. But alas ! for the most part, men are apt to walk con- trary to God in these things, as the wisdom of the flesh is contrary unto him in all things. A great instance we have with respect unto these duties, especially the latter of them. For, 1. Who almost makes a diligent search into, and trial of, his heart and ways, with respect unto the procuring causes of the displeasure and judgments of God? Generally, when the tokens and evidences of them do most abound, the world is full of outrageous provoking sins. These visibly proclaim themselves to be the causes of the ' coming of the wrath of God on the children of disobedience.' Hence most men are apt to cast the whole reason of present judgments upon them, and to put it wholly from themselves. Hence commonly there is never less of self-exatnination, than when it is called for in a peculiar manner. But as I will not deny, but that the open daring sins of the world, are the procuring cause of the wrath of God against it in temporal judgments ; so, the wisest course for us is to refer them unto the great judgment of the last day. This the apostle directs us unto, 2 Thess. i. 6 — 10. Our duty it is to consider on what ac- counts 'judgment begins at the house of God,' and to exa- mine ourselves with respect thereunto.
BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 269
2. Again, the other part of our present duty in compliance with the voice of Providence, is an humble resignation of ourselves and all our concernments unto the will of God, sitting loose in our affections from all earthly temporal en- joyments. This we neither do, nor can do, let us profess what we will, unless our thoughts are greatly exercised about the reasons of it and motives unto it. For this is the way whereby faith puts forth its efficacy unto the mortification of Belf and all earthly enjoyments. Wherefore without this we can make no resignation of ourselves unto the will of God. But alas ! how many at present do openly walk con- trary unto God herein ? The ways, the countenances, the discourses, of men do give evidence hereunto. Their love unto present things, their contrivances for their increase and continuance do grow and thrive under the calls of God to the contrary. So it was of old ; * they did eat, they drank, they married, and gave in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark.' Can the generality of professors at this day give testimony unto the exercise of their thoughts upon such things as should dispose them unto this holy resigna- tion ? that they meditate on the calls of God, and thence make themselves ready to part with all at his time and plea- sure ? How can persons pretend to be spiritually minded, the current of whose thoughts lies in direct contrariety unto the mind of God ?
Here lies the ground of their self-deceivings ; they are professors of the gospel in a peculiar manner, they judge themselves believers, they hope they shall be saved, and have many evidences for it. But one negative evidence will render a hundred that are positive useless. * All these things have I done,' saith the young man ; ' yet one thing thou wantest,' saith our Saviour. And the want of that one ren- dered his * all things' of no avail unto him. Many things you have done, many things you do, many grounds of hope abide with you, neither yourselves nor others do doubt of your condition. But are you spiritually minded? If this one thing be wanting, all the rest will not avail you, you have indeed neither life nor peace. And what grounds have you to judge that you are so, if the current of your thoughts lie in direct contrariety unto the present calls of God ? If at such a time as this is, your love to the world be such as ever it was, and