466 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF
for there is room in them for all the graces of the Spirit to inhabit; and do readily comply with the light and direction of faith unto their exercise. When faith discerns and de- termines that there is any thing to be done or suffered in a way of duty unto the glory of God, the affections thus dis- posed do not shut up or stifle the graces that are in them, but carefully offer them unto their proper exercise.
These are some of those things which our affections, con- formed unto heavenly things, will attain unto. And thus it is with affections spiritually renewed, by being fixed on things spiritual and heavenly, they are more and more con- formed unto them, made like them, and become more spiritual and heavenly themselves.
It is not thus with them whose affections have only an occasional change wrought upon them by the means before described, but are not spiritually renewed. Yea, on the con- trary, such persons do design to debate spiritual things, to bring down heavenly things into a conformity with their affections, which, however changed, are not spiritual, but carnal. To evince this, we may observe,
1. These affections are under the light and conduct of such notions in the mind and understanding, as do not give a clear distinct representation of them in their own nature unto them. For where they are not themselves spiritually renewed, there the mind itself is carnal and unrenewed. And such a mind ' discerneth not the things of God, nor can do so, because they are spiritually discerned.' They cannot be discerned aright in their own beauty and glory, but in and by a spiritual saving light which the mind is devoid of. And where they are not thus represented, the affections cannot receive, or cleave unto them as they ought, nor will ever be conformed unto them.
2. Those notions in such persons are oft-times variously influenced and corrupted by fancy and imagination. They are merely puffed up in their fleshly minds; that is, they are filled with vain, foolish, proud imaginations about spiritual things, as the apostle declares. Col. ii. 18, 19. And the work of fancy in a fleshly mind, is to raise up such images of spi- ritual things as may render them suitable unto natural un- renewed affections.
3. This in the progress of it produceth superstition, false
BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 4G7
worship, and idolatry. For they are all of them an attempt to represent spiritual things in a way suited unto carnal un- renewed affections ; hence men suppose themselves to be ex- cited by them unto love, joy, fear, delight, in the things themselves, when they all respect that false representation of them, whereby they are suited unto them as carnal. These have been the spring of all false worship and idolatry in the Christian world.
1. The mind and affections have been changed and tinctured with devotion by some of the means we have be- fore insisted on. Herein they will one way or other be exer- cised about spiritual things, and are ready to receive im- pressions from any thing that superstition can impose upon them.
2. They are by error and false information set at liberty from the only rule of their actings and exercise, that is, the word of God. Men satisfied themselves, that so their affections were engaged about things spiritual and heavenly, it was no matter at all, whether the way of their exercise was directed by the Scripture or no. Having thus lost their guide and their way, every 'ignis fatuus,' every wandering meteor, allures them to follow its conduct into foolish superstitions. Nothing almost is so ridiculous, nothing so horrid and diffi- cult, that they will not embrace under the notion of things spiritual and heavenly.
3. The carnal minds of men, having no proper dis- tinct apprehensions and notions of spiritual things in their own nature, do endeavour to represent them under such no- tions and images as may suit them unto their carnal unre- newed affections. For it is implanted almost indelibly upon them, that the end ofall knowledge of spiritual things is to pro- pose them unto the embraces of the affections. It were easy to manifest that from these three corrupt springs, arose that flood of idolatry and false worship which spread itself over the church of Rome, and with whose machinations the minds of men are yet too much replenished.
4. Where it is not thus, yet carnal affections do va- riously debase spiritual things, to bring them into a con- formity with themselves. And this may proceed so far, until men thinkl wickedly, that God is altogether like unto them. But I shall not insist on these things any farther.
2 H 2
468 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF
Lastly, Where affections are spiritually renewed, the per- son of Christ is the centre of them; but where they are changed only, they tend unto an end in self. Where the new man is put on, ' Christ is all in ail ;' Col. iii. 10, 1 1 . He is the spring, by his Spirit, that gives them life, light, and being; and he is the ocean that receives all their streams. God, even the Father, presents not himself in his beauty and amiableness as the object of our affections, but as he is in Christ, acting his love in him; 1 John iv. 8, 9. And as unto all other spiritual things, renewed affections cleave unto them, according as they derive from Christ, and lead unto him; for he is unto them ' all and in all.' It is he whom the souls of his saints do love for himself, for his own sake, and all other things of religion in and for him. The air is plea- sant and useful, that without which we cannot live or breathe. But if the sun did not enlighten it, and warm it with its beams, if it were always one perpetual night, and cold, what refreshment could be received by it? Christ is ' the Sun of Righteousness,' and if his beams do not quicken, animate, and enlighten the best, the most necessary duties of religion, nothing desirable v/ould remain in them. This is the most certain character of affections spiritually renewed. They can rest in nothing but in Christ; they fix on nothing but what is amiable by a participation of his beauty; and in whatever he is, therein do they find complacency. It is otherwise with them whose affections may be changed, but are not renewed. The truth is, and it may be made good by all sorts of in- stances, that Christ, in the mystery of his person, and in the glory of his mediation, are the only things that they dislike in religion. False representations of him by images and pictures they may embrace, and delight in false notions of his present glory ; greatness and power may affect them ; a worship of their own devising they may give unto him, and please themselves in it : corrupt opinions concerning his office and grace may possess their minds, and they may con- tend for them; but those who are not spiritually renewed, cannot love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity: yea, they have an inward secret aversatiou from the mystery of his person and his grace. It is self which all their affections centre in, the ways whereof are too long here to be declared.