CHAP. XII.
What IS requited in, and unto our affections, that they may he spiritual. A threefold work on the affections described.
To declare the interest of our affections in this frame of being spiritually minded, and what they contribute there- unto, I shall do these three things :
First, Declare what is required hereunto, that our affec- tions may be spiritual, wherein lies the foundation of the whole duty.
Secondly, What are their actings when they are so spi- ritual.
Thirdly, What are the means whereby they may be kept and preserved in that frame, with sundry other things of the like nature, how our affections are concerned in, or do be- long unto the frame of mind inquired after, hath been before declared. Without spiritual affections, we cannot be spi- ritually minded. And that they may be of this use, three things are required.
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First, Their principle. ' , '' '
Secondly, Their object.
Thirdly, The way and manner of their application unto their proper object, by virtue of that principle.
First, As unto the principle acting in them, that our affections may be spiritual, and the spring- of our being spi- ritually minded, it is required that they be changed, renewed, and inlaid with grace, spiritual and supernatural. To clear the sense hereof, we must a little consider, what is their state by nature, and then, by what means they may be wrought upon, as unto a change, or a renovation. For they are like unto some things, which in themselves, and their own na- ture, are poisonous ; but being corrected, and receiving a due temperament from a mixture of other ingredients, be- come medicinal, and of excellent use.
1. By nature our affections, all of them, are depraved and corrupted. Nothing in the whole nature of man, no power or faculty of the soul, is fallen under greater disorder and depravation by the entrance of sin, than our affections are. In and by them is the heart wholly gone and turned off from God ; Titus, iii. 3. It were a long work to set forth this depravation of our affections, nor doth it belong unto our present design. Some few things I shall briefly observe concerning it, to make way unto what is proposed concerning their change.
1. This is the only corruption and depravation of our nature, by the fall evident in and unto reason, or the light of nature itself. Those who were vnse among the heathen, both saw it and complained of it. They found a weakness in the mind, but saw nothing of its darkness and depra- vation as unto things spiritual. But they were sensible enough of this disorder and tumult of the affections in things moral, which renders the minds of men like a troubled sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. This greatly aggravates the neglect of them who are not sensible of it in themselves, seeing it is discernible in the lioht of nature.
2. They are as depraved, the seat and subject of all lusts, both of the flesh and of the spirit. Yea, lust or evil concu|)iscence is nothing but the irregular motion and acting of our affections, as depraved, defiled, corrupted ;
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Rom. vii. 9. Hence, no one sin can be mortified without a diange wrought in the affections.
3. They are the spring, root, and cause of all actual sin in the world; Matt. xv. 9. The evil heart in the Scrip- ture, is the corrupt affections of it, with the imagina- tions of the mind whereby they are excited and acted ; Gen. vi. 5. These are they which at this time fill the whole world with wickedness, darkness, confusion,' and terror : and we may learn what is their force and efficacy from these effects. So the nature of the plague is most evident, when we see thousands dying of it every week.
4. They are the way and means whereby the soul ap- plies itself unto all sinful objects and actings. Hence are they called our members, our earthly members; because, as the body applies itself unto its operations by its members, so doth the soul apply itself unto what belongs unto it, by its affections ; Rom. vi. 13. Col. iii. 5.
5. They will not be under the conduct of the mind, its light, or convictions. Rebellion against the light of the mind, is the very form whereby their corruption acts itself; Job. xxiv. 13. Let the apprehensions of the mind, and its notions of good and evil be what they will, they reject them, and lead the soul in pursuit of their inclinations. Hence, no natural man whatsoever doth in any measure answer the light of his mind, or the convictions of his understanding; but he sees and approves of better things following those that are worse. And there is no greater spiritual judgment, than for men to be given up unto them- selves, and their own evil affections ; Rom. i. 26.
Many other instances might be given of the greatness of that depravation which our affections are fallen under by sin ; these may suffice as unto our present purpose.
In general, this depravation of our affections by nature may be reduced unto two heads.
1. An utter aversation from God and all spiritual things. In this lies the spring of all that dislike of God and his ways, that the hearts of men are filled withal. Yea, they do not only produce an aversation from them, and dislike of them, but they fill the mind with an enmity against them. Therefore, men say in their hearts unto God, ' Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy