BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED.
439
somewhat inconsistent with their present occasions and af- fairs. By this means hath religion lost much of its glory, and the souls of men have been deprived of the principal ad- vantap;es of it in this world.
Such persons are like unto men who live in a country wherein they are not only pressed with poverty, and all sorts of misery, but are also obnoxious unto grievous punishments, and death itself, if they are taken in it. In this condition they are told and assured of another country, wherein so soon as they are arrived, they shall be freed from all fear of danger of punishment, and if they pass farther into it, they shall meet with riches, plenty, and afair inheritance provided for them. Hereon they betake themselves unto their voyage to obtain an entrance into it, and possession of it. But no sooner do they come within the borders, and so are free from danger, or fear of punishment and death, but they sit down and will go no farther, to enjoy the good things of the country whereunto they are come. And it falls out with many of them, that through their sloth, negligence, and ignorance, they take up short of the true bounds and limits of the country of liberty and peace which they aimed at, whereby danger and death surprise them unawares. This ruin could not have befallen them, had they industriously endeavoured to enter into the heart of the country, and have possessed the good things thereof At best, being only in the borders, they lead a poor life all their days, exposed to wants and danger.
So it is in this case. Men falling under the power of con- victions, and those restless fears wherewith they are accom- panied, will stir up themselves, and inquire how they may ' fly from the wrath to come;' how they may be delivered from the state of sin, and the eternal misery which will ensue thereon.
In the gospel not only mercy and pardon are proposed unto them on their believing, which is the first entrance into the heavenly country; but peace, and joy, and spiritual strength upon their admission into it, and a progress made in it by faith and obedience. But many when they have at- tained so far, as that they have some hopes of pardon and freedom from the curse, so as to deliver them from their tor-
440 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF
meriting fears, will endeavour to preserve those hopes, and keep that state ; but will not pass on to a full enjoyment of the precious things of the gospel, by growth in grace and spiritual affections. But how many of them fall under woful mistakes. For supposing themselves to be in a gospel state, it proves in the issue that they never entered into it. They were not, it may be, far from the kingdom of heaven, in the same sense as it was spoken of him who never came thither. There is no way to secure an interest in the gospel, as to pardon and mercy, safety and deliverance, but by a growth in grace, holiness, and spirituality, which gives an entrance into the choicest mercies and privileges of it.
This folly of men in taking up with their measures, en- deavouring only to maintain that state and condition which they hope they have attained, is the great reason why their affections do not daily grow up into spirituality, through an assimilation unto heavenly things. And a folly it is, at- tended with innumerable aggravations. As for instance,
1. It is contrary and destructive unto the genuine and principal property of gospel grace. For it is every where compared by our Saviour unto things which from small seeds and beginnings, do grow up by a continual increase unto large measures, as to a grain of mustard seed, a little leaven, and the like.
That grace in whose nature it is not to thrive and grow, may justly be suspected, and ought diligently to be exa- mined by them who take care of their own souls, and would not be eternally deceived.
2. It is contrary unto the most excellent or invaluable evangelical promises recorded in the Old Testament and the New; and which are amongst the principal supportments of the faith, hope, and comfort of believers. God hath given them unto us, to encourage us unto an expectation of such supplies of grace, as shall cause us to thrive and grow against all opposition, unto the utmost of our continuance in this world. And they are so multiplied as that there is no need to mention any of them in particular; God evidencing thereby how great is the grace, and how precious, which he so often promiseth, and of what consideration it is of unto ourselves: see Psal. xcii. 13—15. Isa. xl. 28 — 31. Where-
BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 441
fore the folly of taking up with present measures of grace, holiness, and spirituality, is attended with two unspeakable evils.
1. A signal contempt of the love, grace, faithfulness, and wisdom of God, in giving of us such promises of grace, to make us to increase, thrive, and grow. How can it be done more effectually, than by such a neglect of his pro- mised grace.
2. An evidence that such persons love not, care not for, grace or holiness for their own souls, but merely to serve their turn at present as they suppose ; nor do desire the least of grace or privilege by Christ, without which they can have any hopes to get to heaven. This sufficiently dis- covers men to be wholly under the power of self-love, and to centre therein ; for if they may have so much grace and mercy as may save them, they care for no more.