2. Gradual as unto its increase; and therein faith works in and by the affections.
Whenever the affections do cleave intensely unto any ob- ject, they receive an impression from it, as the wax doth from the seal when applied unto it, which changeth them into its own likeness. So the apostle affirms of sensual unclean
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persons, they ' have eyes full of adultery ;' 2 Pet. ii. 14. Their affections are so wholly possessed and filled with their lust- ful objects, as that they have brought forth their own likeness upon their imaginations. That blots out all others, and leaves them no inclinations but what they stir up in them. When men are filled with the ' love of this world,' which carries along with it all their other affections, their hopes, fears, and desires, unto a constant exercise about the same ob- ject, they become earthly minded. Their minds are so changed into the image of the things themselves, by the ef- fectual working of the corrupt principles of sin, self-love, and lust, as if they were made up of the earth, and therefore have no savour of any thing else.
In like manner when by faith men come to embrace heavenly things, through the effectual working of a prin- ciple of spiritual life and grace in them, they are every day more and more made heavenly. The inward man is renewed day by day. Love is more sincere and ardent, delight is more ravishing and sensible, desires are more enlarged and intense, and by all a taste and relish of heavenly things is height- ened into refreshing experience. See Rom. v. 2 — 5.
This is the way whereby one grace is added unto another, 2 Pet. i. 5, 6. in degrees. Great is the assimilation between renewed affections and their spiritual objects, that by this means may be attained.
The mind hereby becomes the temple of God, wherein he dwells by the Spirit; Christ also dwelleth in believers, and they in him. ' God is love,' and he that * dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him;' 1 John iv. 16.
Love, in its proper exercise, gives a mutual inhabitation unto God and believers. In brief, he whose affections are set upon heavenly things in a due manner, will be heavenly minded. And in the due exercise of them, will that heavenly mindedness be increased. The transformation and assimi- lation that is wrought, is not in the object or spiritual things themselves ; they are not changed neither in themselves, nor in the representation made of them unto our minds ; but the change is in our affections, which are made like unto them.
Two cases deriving from this principle and consideration, may be here spoken unto, and shall be so ; the first in this, and the other in the following chapter. The one is concern^-
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ing the slowness and imperceptibility of the growth of our affections in their assimilation unto heavenly things, with the causes and reasons of it. The other is, the decays that frequently befall men in their affections unto spiritual things, instead of growing and thriving in them, with the reasons and causes thereof.
1. This progress and growth of our affections into spi- rituality and heavenliness, into conformity unto the things they are set upon, is ofttimes very slow, and sometimes im- perceptible. Yea, for the most part, it is a hard thing to find it satisfactorily in ourselves or others. Our affections stand like shrubs in the wilderness, which see not when good cometh, and are not like plants in a garden enclosed, which is watered every day. But it is not so without our folly and our sin.
1. The folly that keeps many in this condition, consists herein; the generality of Christians are contented with their present measures, and design little more, than not to lose the ground they have gained. And a pernicious folly it is that both ruins the glory of religion, and deprives the souls of men of peace and consolation. But so it is, men have some grounds of persuasion, or at least they hope, and suppose they have such grounds, that they are * passed from death unto life,' that they are in a state of grace and acceptance with God. This state they will endeavour to preserve by a diligent performance of the duties it requireth, and the avoidance of such sins, whereby they might make a forfei- ture of it. But as for earnest watchful endeavours and dili- gence to thrive in this state, to grow in grace, to be changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ, to * press for- ward towards the mark of the high-calling,' and after per- fection to lay hold upon eternal life, to be more holy, more humble, more righteous, more spiritually minded, to have their affections more and more transformed into the likeness of things above ; they are but few, that sincerely and diligently apply themselves unto it, or unto the means of these thino-s. The measures which they have attained unto, give satisfac- tion unto the church, and reputation in the world, that they are professors ; and some so speak peace unto their own souls. To be more holy and heavenly, to have their affec- tions more taken up with the things above, they suppose