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ritual pride and self-exaltation. Hence the apostle will not admit a novice, one unexperienced in the ways of grace and deceits of sin, into the office of the ministry, lest he should be lifted up with pride, and fall into the condemnation of the devil; ITim. iii. 6, He himself was not without danger hereof ; 2 Cor. xii. 17. The best of men can hardly fortify their minds against the secret workings of pride upon successes and ap- plause, unless they keep themselves constantly balanced with thoughts of their own vileness in the sight of God. And, secondly, remissness unto exact universal mortification, which they countenance themselves against, by their accep- tance and success above others in the ministry. It were much to be desired that all who are ministers, would be care- ful in these things ; for although some of us may not much please others, yet we may so far please ourselves, as to expose our souFs unto these snares. And the effects of negligence herein do openly appear unto the disadvantage of the gospel. Others are much conversant in the world and the affairs of it. Negligence as unto a spiritual watch, vanity in converse, love of earthly things, with conformity unto the world, will on all occasions impose themselves upon them. If they under- stand not their temptations herein, spiritual mindedness will be impaired in them continually. Those that are rich have their especial temptations, which for the most part are many, plausible, and effectual ; and those that are poor have theirs also. The snares of some lie in their constitutions, of others in their society, of most in the various circumstances of life. Those who are upon their watch in any due measure, who exercise any wisdom or observation concerning themselves, may know wherein their temptations do lie, what are the ad- vantages whereby they perplex their minds and endanger their souls.
In these cases, generally, men are taught what are the ways and means of their deliverance and preservation. Where- fore there are three things required unto this duty, and spi- ritual wisdom unto them all : 1. To know what are the es- pecial temptations from whence you suffer, and whereby the life of God is obstructed in you. If this be neglected, if it be disregarded, no man can maintain either life or peace, or is spiritually minded. 2. Know your remedy, your relief, wherein alone it doth consist. Many duties are required of
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US unto this end, and are useful thereunto. But know as- suredly, that no one of them, not all of them in conjunction, will bring in relief unto the glory of God and your own peace, without application by faith unto him who ' is able to succour them that are tempted.' Wherefore, 3. Herein lies your great duty with respect unto your temptations, namely, in a constant exercise of yourthoughts on the love, care, compassion, and tenderness of Christ, with his ability to help, succour, and save them that do believe, so to strengthen your faith and trust in him, which will prove assuredly successful and victorious.
The same duty is incumbent on us with respect unto any urgent prevalent general temptation. There are seasons wherein an hour of temptation comes on the earth to try them that dwell therein. What if a man should judge that now^ it is such anhour, and that the power of darkness is put forth there- in? What if he should be persuaded that a general security, coldness, deadness, and decay in grace, especially as to the vigorous actings of zeal, love, and delight in God, with an in- differency unto holy duties, are the effects of this hour of temp- tation ? I do not say determinately that so it is, let others judge as they see cause. But if any one do so judge, un- doubtedly it is bis duty to be exercised in his thoughts, how he may escape in this day of trial, and be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man. He will find it his concern- ment to be conversant in his mind with the reasons and motives unto watchfulness, and how he may obtain such supplies of grace as may effectually preserve him from such decays.
3. All things in religion, both in faith and practice, are to be the objects of such thoughts. As they are proposed or occur in our minds in great variety on all sorts of occasions, so we ouQ-ht to p-ive them entertainment in our meditations. To hear things, to have them proposed unto us, it may be, in the way of a divine ordinance, and to let them slip out or flow from us, as water that is poured into a leaking vessel, is the ruin of many souls. 1 shall therefore choose out some instances, as was before proposed, of those things which I judfre that they who would be spiritually minded, ought to abide and abound in thoughts concerning them.
1. It is ourduty greatly to mind the things that are above.
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eternal things, both as unto their reality, their present state, and our future enjoyment of them. Herein consists the life of this grace and duty. To be heavenly minded, that is, to mind the things of heaven, and to be spiritually minded is all one ; or it is the effect of being spiritually minded, as unto its original and essence ; or the first proper actings of it. It is the cause of it, as unto its growth and degrees ; and it is the evidence of it in experience. Nor do I understand how it is possible for a man to place his chief interest in things above, and not have many thoughts of them. It is the great advice of the apostle, on a supposition of our interest in Christ and conformity unto him, Col. iii. 1, 2. 'If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on (or your thoughts), mind much, * the things that are above.' It becomes those who through the virtue of the resurrection of Christ are raised unto newness of life, to have their thoughts exercised on the state of things above, with respect unto the presence of Christ among them. And the singular use of our prospect into these things, or our meditations on them, he instructs us in, 2 Cor. iv. 16 — 18. ' For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the in- ward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceed- ing and eternal weight of glory ; while we look not at the thino-s which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' Not to faint under the daily decays of our outward man, and the approaches of death thereby, to bear afflictions as things light and momentary, to thrive under all in the inward man, are unspeakable mercies and privileges. Can you attain a better frame ? Is there any thing that you would more desire, if you are believers? Is it not better to have such a mind in us, than to enjoy all the peace and security that the world can afford ? One prin- cipal means whereby we are made partakers of these things, is a due meditation on things unseen and eternal. These are the things that are within the vail, whereon we ought to cast the anchor of our hope in all the storms we meet withal, Heb. vi. 19,20. whereof we shall speak more afterward. Without doubt <he generality of Christians are greatly