Take one instance, which is the continual concernment of us all. We are obnoxious unto death every moment. It is never the farther from any of us because we think not of it as we ought. This will lay our bodies in the dust, from whence they will have no more disposition nor power in themselves to rise again, than any other part of the mould of
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the earth. Their recovery must be an act of external al- mighty power, when God shall have a desire to the work of his hands ; when he shall call, and we shall answer him out of the dust. And it will transmit the soul into an invisible world, putting a final end unto all relations, enjoyments, and circumstances here below. I speak not of them who are stout-hearted and far from righteousness, who live and die like beasts, or under the power of horrible presumption, without any due thoughts of their future and eternal state. But, as unto others, what comfort or satisfaction can any man have in his life, whereon his all depends, and which is passing from him every moment, unless he hath continual thoughts of the mighty power of God, whereby he is able to receive his departing soul, and to raise his body out of the dust ?
Not to insist on more particulars ; thus is it with them who are spiritually minded ; thus must it be with us all, if we pretend a title unto that privilege. They are filled with thoughts of God, in opposition unto that character of wicked men, that God is not in all their thoughts. And it is greatly to be feared, that many of us, when we come to be weighed in this balance, will be found too light. Men may be in the performance of outward duties; they may hear the word with delight, and do many things gladly ; they may escape the pollutions that are in the world through lust, and not run out into the same compass of excess and riot with other men ; yet may they be strangers unto inward thoughts of God with delight and complacency. I cannot understand how it can be otherwise with them whose minds are over and over filled with earthly things, however they may satisfy themselves with pretences of their callings and lawful enjoy- ments, or not any way inordinately set on the pleasures or profits of the world.
To walk with God, to live unto him, is not merely to be found in an abstinence from outward sins, and in the per- formance of outward duties, though with diligence in the multiplication of them. All this may be done upon such principles, for such ends, with such a frame of heart, as to find no acceptance with God. It is our hearts that he re- quireth, and we can no way give them unto him but by our affections and holy thoughts of him with delight. This it is
352 THE GRACE AXD DUTY OF
to be vSpiritually minded, this it is to walk with God. Let no man deceive himself: unless he thus abound in holy thoughts of God, unless our meditation of him be sweet unto us, all that we else pretend unto will fail us in the day of our trial.
This is the first thing wherein we may evidence ourselves unto ourselves, to be under the conduct of the minding of the Spirit, or to be spiritually minded. And I have insisted the longer on it, because it contains the first sensible egress of the Spirit of living waters in us, the first acting of spiri- tual life unto our own experience. I should now proceed unto the consideration of our aftections, of whose frame and state these thoughts are the only genuine exposition. But whereas there are, or may be, some who are sensible of their own weakness and deficiency in the discharge of that part of this duty in beiug spiritually minded, which we have passed through, and may fall under discouragements thereon, we must follow him, as we are able, who will not ' quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed,' by oftering something unto the relief of them that are sincere under the sense of their own weakness.
CHAP. X.
Swidiy tJihigs tendered unto such as complain that they know not how, that they are not able to abide in holy thoughts of Cod, and spiritual or heavenly things ; for their relief, instruction, and direction. Rules conceiiiing stated spintual meditation.
Some will say, yea, on many occasions do say, that there is not any thing in all their duty towards God, wherein they are more at a loss than they are in this one, of fixing or ex- ercising their thoughts or meditations on things heavenly or spiritual. They acknowledge it a duty ; they see an excel- lency in it, with inexpressible usefulness. But althouoh they often try and attempt it, they cannot attain unto any thing but what makes them ashamed both of it and them- selves. Their minds they find are unsteady, apt to rove and wander, or give entertainment unto other things, and not to abide on the object which they design their meditation to-
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wards. Their abilities are small, their invention barren, their memories frail, and their judgments, to dispose of things into right order, weak and unable. They know not what to think on for the most part, and when they fix on any thing, they are immediately at a loss as unto any progress, and so give over. Hence other thoughts, or thoughts of other things, take advantage to impose themselves on them, and what began in spiritual meditation, ends in carnal vanity. On these considerations, ofttimes they are discouraged to enter on the duty, ofttimes give it over so soon as it is begun, and are glad if they come off without being losers by their endeavours, which often befalls them. With respect unto other duties, it is not so with them. Unto such as are really concerned in these things, unto whom their want and defect is a burden, who mourn under it, and desire to be freed from it, or refreshed in their conflict with it, I shall offer the things that ensue.