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child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.' A change and alteration is promised in the natures, principles, and first inclinations of the worst and most savage sinners, who pass under the power of gospel grace.
This is that which is required of us in a way of duty ; Eph. iv. 13. 'And be ye renewed in the spirit of your minds.' There is a renovation of the mind itself, by the communication of spiritual saving light and understanding thereunto, whereof I have treated elsewhere at large ; see Rom. xii. 2. Ephes. i. 17, 18. But the spirit of the mind, that whereby it is enlivened, lead and disposed unto its actings, that is to be renewed also. The spirit of the mind is in this place opposed unto the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lust, or depraved affections ; ver. 22. These therefore are that spirit of the mind which incline, bend, and lead it to act suitably unto its inclinations, which is to be renewed. And when our affections are inclined by the saving grace of the Holy Spirit, then are they renewed, and not else. No other change will give them a spiritual renovation. Hereby those things which are only natural affections in themselves, in them that believe, become fruits of the Spirit; Gal. v. 22. 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,' &c. They continue the same as they were in their essence, substance, and natural powers, but are changed in their properties, qualities, inclinations, whenever a new na- ture is given unto them. So the waters at Marah were the same waters still, before and after their cure. But of them- selves, and in their own nature, they were bitter, so as that the people could not drink them ; in the casting of a tree into them, they were made sweet and useful ; Exod. xv. 25, 26. So was it with the waters of Jericho, which were cured by casting salt into them ; 2 Kings xix. 20, 21. Our affections continue the same as they were on their nature and essence, , but they are so cured by grace, as that their properties, qualities, and inclinations, are all cleansed or renewed. The tree or salt that is cast into these waters whereby the cure is wrought, is the love of God above all, proceeding from faith in him by Christ Jesus.
BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 397
CHAP. XIII.
The work of the renovation of our affections. How differenced from any other impression on, or change wrought in, them, and how it is evidenced so to he. The first instance in the universality accompanying of affec- tions spiritually renewed. The order of the exercise of our ajf'ections with respect unto their objects.
That which is our concernment herein, is to inquire of what nature that work is which hath been on our own affec- tions, or in them, and how it differs from those, which, whatever they do or effect, yet will not render us nor them- selves spiritual.
And we ought to use the best of our diligence herein; because the great means whereby multitudes delude and deceive their own souls, persuading themselves that there has been an effectual work of the grace of the gospel in them, is the change that they find in their affections, which may be, on many occasions, without any spiritual renovation.
1. As unto the temporary and occasional impressions in the affections before mentioned, whether from the word, or any other divine warning by afflictions or mercies, they are common unto all sorts of persons. Some there are, whose ' consciences are seared with a hot iron ;' 1 Tim. iv. 2. ' who' thereon ' being past feeling' (senseless of all calls, warn- ings, and rebukes), ' do give themselves over unto lascivious- ness, to work all uncleanness with greediness;' Ephes. iv. 19. Such persons having hardened themselves in a long course of sin, and being given up unto a reprobate mind, or vile affections in a way of judgment, have, it may be, no such impressions on their affections, on any occasion, as to move them with a sense of things spiritual and eternal. They may be terrified with danger, sudden judgments, and other reve- . lations of the wrath of God from heaven against the ungod- liness of men; but they are not drawn to take shelter in thoughts of spiritual things. Nothing but hell will awaken them unto a due consideration of themselves and things eternal.
It is otherwise with the generality of men who are not profligate and impudent in sinning. For although they are
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in a natural condition, and a course of sin, in the neglect of known duties, yet by one means or other, most frequently by the preaching of the word, their affections are stirred to- wards heavenly things.
Sometimes they are afraid, sometimes they have hopes and desires about them. These put them on resolutions, and some temporary endeavours to change their lives, to abstain from sin, and to perform holy duties. But as the prophet complains, ' their goodness is as the morning cloud ; and as the early dew, so passeth it away.' Yet by means hereof do many poor ignorant souls deceive themselves, and cry peace, peace, when there is no peace. And they will some- times so express how they are affected with complaints of themselves as unto their long- neo-lect of spiritual thing;s, that others may entertain good hopes concerning them ; but all comes to nothing in the trial.