The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, as the Author and finisher of our Faith, for the Joy that was set before him, endured the Cross and despised the Shame, Heb. 12.2. His Mediatory Glory in the Salvation of the Church, was the Matter of the Joy set before him. This he took the view and prospect of in all his Sufferings, unto his Refreshment and Supportment. And his Example, as the Author and finisher of our Faith, is more efficaciously instructive than any other Rule or Precept. Eternal Glory is set before us also; It is the Design of Gods Wisdom and Grace, that by the contemplation of it we should relieve our selves in all our Sufferings, yea and rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. How many of those blessed Souls now in the enjoyment of God and Glory, who passed through fiery Trials and great Tribulations, were enabled to sing and rejoice in the Flames by a Prepossession of this Glory in their Minds through Believing? yea some have been so filled with them, as to take off all sense of pain under the most exquisite Tortures. When Stephen was to be Stoned, to encourage him in his Sufferings and comfort him in it, the Heavens were opened, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Who can conceive what contempt of all the Rage and madness of the Jews, what a neglect of all the pains of Death this view raised his holy Soul unto? To obtain therefore such views frequently by Faith, as they do who are truly Spiritually minded, is the most effectual way to encourage us unto all our ⟨p. 87⟩Sufferings. The Apostle gives us the force of this encouragement in a comparison with Earthly things. 1 Cor. 9.25. Every man who striveth for the mastery, is temperate in all things; Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, but we an incorruptible. If men when a corruptible Crown of vain Honour and Applause is proposed unto them, will do and endure all that is needful for the Attainment of it, and relieve themselves in their hardships with Thoughts and Imaginations of attaining it, grounded on uncertain hopes; shall not we who have a Crown immortal and invisible proposed unto us, and that with the highest assurance of the enjoyment of it, cheerfully undergo, endure and suffer what we are to go through in the way unto it?

Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, as the Author and finisher of our Faith, for the Joy that was set before him, endured the Cross and despised the Shame,