1. By frequent and serious Thoughts. Thoughts are the Spies and Messengers of Hope sent into the promised Land, to bring the Soul Tidings of what is to come. It is impossible for a Man to hope for any thing, but his Mind will run upon it, and he will be thinking of it. We find it in all earthly Matters, that Hope sets the Mind on work; and so we preoccupy and forestall the Contentments that we expect; we enjoy them before they come, by serious Contemplation, feasting the Soul with Images and Suppositions of the Happiness we shall have when we come to Fruition. Contemplation of Heaven is the Feast of the Soul. Hope brings in the Image and Suppositions of what is to come, as if it were already present. Certainly wherever the Treasure is, the Heart, the Thoughts will be there. Hope carries the Mind above the Clouds, in the midst of the Glory of the World to come, as if we did see Christ upon his white Throne, and Paul with his Crown of Righteousness, and all the faithful Ones in Abraham's Bosom. If a Beggar were adopted into the Succession of a Crown, would he not please himself in forethinking of the Happiness, Honour and Pleasure of the Kingly State? So we vile Creatures that are adopted to be Coheirs with Christ, if we did hope to be Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, Heaven would have more of our Thoughts, and take up more of the Musings of our Souls. We should still observe what we muse upon most: carnal Thoughts, and carnal Projects discover a carnal Heart. When we are always thinking of plucking down Barns, and building greater, advancing our Families, and providing worldly Increase; when we are talking to our selves, as Luke 12.18. He thought within himself, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my Fruits? And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my Barns, and build greater, &c. The word [Greek or Hebrew] signifies, he was framing Dialogues with himself of bestowing his Goods; this shows a carnal Heart. So James 4.13. To day or to morrow we will go into such a City, and continue there a Year, and buy and sell, and get Gain. It is usual with Men to live upon the Reversion of their Hopes, and feed themselves with the pleasure thereof. As young Heirs spend upon their Hopes, and run out their Estates ere they possess them; so doth the Soul either in Matters carnal or heavenly still feed upon its Hopes.
1. By frequent and serious Thoughts. Thoughts are the Spies and Messengers of Hope sent into the promised Land, to bring the Soul Tidings of what is to come. It is impossible for a Man to hope for any thing, but his Mind will run upon it, and he will be thinking of it. We find it in all earthly Matters, that Hope sets the Mind on work; and so we preoccupy and forestal the Contentments that we expect; we enjoy them before they come, by serious Contemplation, feasting the Soul with Images and Suppositions of the Happiness we shall have when we come to Fruition. Contemplation of Heaven is the Feast of the Soul. Hope brings in the Image and Suppositions of what is to come, as if it were already present. Certainly whereever the Treasure is, the Heart, the Thoughts will be there. Hope carries the Mind above the Clouds, in the midst of the Glory of the World to come, as if we did see Christ upon his white Throne, and Paul with his Crown of Righteousness, and all the faithful Ones in Abraham's Bosom. If a Beggar were adopted into the Succession of a Crown, would he not please himself in forethinking of the Happiness, Honour and Pleasure of the Kingly State? So we vile Creatures that are adopted to be Coheirs with Christ, if we did hope to be Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, Heaven would have more of our Thoughts, and take up more of the Musings of our Souls. We should still observe what we muse upon most: carnal Thoughts, and carnal Projects discover a carnal Heart. When we are always thinking of plucking down Barns, and building greater, advancing our Families, and providing worldly Encrease; when we are talking to our selves, as Luke 12.18. He thought within himself, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my Fruits? And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my Barns, and build greater, &c. The word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 signifies, he was framing Dialogues with himself of bestowing his Goods; this shews a carnal Heart. So Iames 4.13. To day or to morrow we will go into such a City, and continue there a Year, and buy and sell, and get Gain. It is usual with Men to live upon the Reversion of their Hopes, and feed themselves with the pleasure thereof. As young Heirs spend upon their Hopes, and run out their Estates e're they possess them; so doth the Soul either in Matters carnal or heavenly still feed upon its Hopes.
