A53719:206
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded
Phronemma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...Phronēma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...
London: printed by J.G. for Nathaniel Ponder, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
WE have treated in general before of the proper Objects of our Spiritual Thoughts as unto our present Duty. That which we were last engaged in, is an Especial Instance in Heavenly Things; Things future and invisible, with the Fountain and Spring of them all in Christ and God himself. And because men generally are unskilled herein, and great Difficulties arise in the way of the Discharge of this Part of the Duty in hand, I shall give some especial Directions concerning it.
WE have treated in general before of the proper Objects of our Spiritual Thoughts as unto our present Duty. That which we were last ingaged in, is an Especial Instance in Heavenly Things; Things future and invisible, with the Fountain and Spring of them all in Christ and God himself. And because men generally are unskilled herein, and great Difficulties arise in the way of the Discharge of this Part of the Duty in hand, I shall give some especial Directions concerning it.
1. Possess your Minds with right notions and apprehensions of things above, and of the state of future Glory. We are in this duty to look at the things which are not seen, 2 Cor. 4.16. It is Faith only whereby we have a prospect of them; for we walk by Faith and not by sight. And Faith can give us no interest in them, unless we have due apprehensions of them. For it doth but assent and cleave unto the Truth of what is proposed unto it. And the greatest part of Mankind do both deceive themselves, and ⟨p. 97⟩feed on Ashes in this matter. They fancy a future Estate which hath no foundation but in their own Imaginations. Wherefore the Apostle directing us to seek and mind the things that are above, adds for the guidance of our Thoughts, the consideration of the principal concernment of them, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, Col. 3.1, 2. He would lead us unto distinct Apprehensions of those Heavenly things, especially of the presence of Christ in his Exaltation and Glory. Wherefore the true Notion of these things which we are to possess our minds withal, may here be considered.