The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

2. It will gradually give the Heart an acquaintance with the especial nature and use of these things. General Thoughts and Notions of Heaven and Glory, do but fluctuate up and down in the Mind, and very little influence it unto other Duties. But assiduous Contemplation will give the mind such distinct Apprehensions of Heavenly things as shall duly affect it with the Glory of them. The more we discern of the Glory and Excellency of them in their own nature, of their suitableness unto ours, as our only proper Rest and Blessedness, as the Perfection and complement of what is already begun in us by Grace, of the restless tendency of all gracious Dispositions and Inclinations of our Hearts towards their Enjoyment, the more will Faith be established in its cleaving unto them; so in the Contemplation of these things consists the principal food of Faith, whereby it is nourished and strengthened. And we are not to expect much work, where there is not provision of proper Food for them that labour. No wonder if we find Faith faint and weak in the work it hath to do, which oft times is great and weighty, if we neglect to guide it daily unto that which should administer strength unto it.

2. It will gradually give the Heart an acquaintance with the especial nature and use of these things. General Thoughts and Notions of Heaven and Glory, do but fluctuate up and down in the Mind, and very little influence it unto other Duties. But assiduous Contemplation will give the mind such distinct Apprehensions of Heavenly things as shall duely affect it with the Glory of them. The more we discern of the Glory and Excellency of them in their own nature, of their suitableness unto ours, as our only proper Rest and Blessedness, as the Perfection and complement of what is already begun in us by Grace, of the restless tendency of all gracious Dispositions and Inclinations of our Hearts towards their Enjoyment, the more will Faith be established in its cleaving unto them; so in the Contemplation of these things consists the principal food of Faith, whereby it is nourished and strengthened. And we are not to expect much work, where there is not provision of proper Food for them that labour. No wonder if we find Faith faint and weak in the work it hath to do, which oft times is great and weighty, if we neglect to guide it daily unto that which should administer strength unto it.