A treatise of mans imaginations Showing his natural evil thoughtsA treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts

Sect. 3. Of the elevation of the heart to God.¹

Sect. 3. Of the eleuation of the heart to God.¹

1. 13. Rule.

Thirdly, for the reformation of our thoughts we must ⟨p. 185⟩often use elevation of mind and heart to heaven, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of his father. Thus did David unto thee, ^aoh Lord, do I lift up my soul: And Paul, saying of himself & other Christians, ^bthat they had their conversation in heaven, signifieth thus much, that not only their studies and meditations, but also their dealings in the world were heavenly. S. James^c bids us, draw near to God, now which way should a poor wretch here below, draw near to God, but by lifting up his heart to the throne of grace in heaven, that so God in mercy may draw near unto him by grace? The Lord hath instituted in his Church the use of his last supper, wherein the ⟨p. 186⟩giving and receiving of bread and wine doth represent and seal up unto us our communion and participation of the body and blood of Christ given for our redemption: Now the principal action on our behalf therein required, is this Elevation of the heart unto God, as well for the contemplation of Gods infinite mercy in Christ, & of Christs endless love to us, as for the application of his merits to our own souls by the hand of faith, as also for the spiritual resignation of ourselves in souls and bodies, by way of thankfulness, to him that hath redeemed us. Further touching this Elevation we must remember, that it ought to be our continual and ordinary action unto God: for