The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Some perhaps will be ready to say, that if this be Heaven they can see no great Glory in it, no such Beauty as for which it should be desired. It may be so, for some have no Instrument to take a view of Invisible things but carnal Imaginations. Some have no Light, no Principle, no disposition of Mind or Soul, whereunto these things are either acceptable or suitable. Some will go no further in the consideration of the Divine Excellencies of God, and the Faculties and actings of our Souls, than Reason will guide them, which may be of use. But we look for no other Heaven, we desire none, but what we are lead unto and prepared for by the Light of the Gospel; that which shall perfect all the beginnings of Gods Grace in us; not what shall be quite of another nature and destructive of them. We value not that Heaven which is equally suited unto the Desires and Inclinations of the worst of men as well as of the best; for we know that they who like not Grace here, neither do nor can like that which is Glory hereafter. No man who is not acquainted experimentally in some measure, with the Life, Power and Evidence of Faith here, hath any other Heaven in his aim, but what is erected in his own Imagination. The Glory of Heaven which the Gospel prepares us for, which Faith leads and conducts us unto, which the Souls of Believers long after, as that which will give full Rest, Satisfaction and Complacency, is the full, open, perfect Manifestation of the Glory of the Wisdom, Goodness, ⟨p. 106⟩and Love of God in Christ, in his Person and Mediation, with the Revelation of all his Counsels concerning them, and the communication of their effects unto us. He that likes it not, unto whom it is not desirable, may betake himself unto Mahomets Paradise, or the Philosophers Speculations, in the Gospel Heaven he hath no Interest. These are the things which we see now darkly as in a Glass, by Faith; in the view of them are our Souls gradually changed into the likeness of God; and the comprehension of them is that which shall give us our utmost conformity and likeness unto him whereof our natures are capable. In a sense and experience of their Reality and Goodness given us by the Holy Ghost, do all our spiritual Consolations and Joys consist. The Effects produced by them in our Souls are the first fruits of Glory.

Some perhaps will be ready to say, that if this be Heaven they can see no great Glory in it, no such Beauty as for which it should be desired. It may be so, for some have no Instrument to take a view of Invisible things but carnal Imaginations. Some have no Light, no Principle, no disposition of Mind or Soul, whereunto these things are either acceptable or suitable. Some will go no further in the consideration of the Divine Excellencies of God, and the Faculties and actings of our Souls, than Reason will guide them, which may be of use. But we look for no other Heaven, we desire none, but what we are lead unto and prepared for by the Light of the Gospel; that which shall perfect all the beginnings of Gods Grace in us; not what shall be quite of another nature and destructive of them. We value not that Heaven which is equally suited unto the Desires and Inclinations of the worst of men as well as of the best; for we know that they who like not Grace here, neither do nor can like that which is Glory hereafter. No man who is not acquainted experimentally in some measure, with the Life, Power and Evidence of Faith here, hath any other Heaven in his aim, but what is erected in his own Imagination. The Glory of Heaven which the Gospel prepares us for, which Faith leads and conducts us unto, which the Souls of Believers long after, as that which will give full Rest, Satisfaction and Complacency, is the full, open, perfect Manifestation of the Glory of the Wisdom, Goodness,