The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

This is that notion of Heaven which those who are spiritually minded ought to be conversant withal. And the true stating of it by Faith, is a discriminating character of Believers. This is no Heaven unto any others. Those who have not an experience of the Excellency of these things in their initial state in this World, and their incomparable Transcendency unto all other things, cannot conceive how heavenly Glory and Blessedness should consist in them. Unskilful men may cast away rough unwrought Diamonds as useless Stones; they know not what polishing will bring them unto. Nor do men unskilful in the Mysteries of Godliness, judge there can be any Glory in rough unwrought Grace; they know not what lustre and beauty the polishing of the Heavenly hand will give unto it.

This is that notion of Heaven which those who are spiritually minded ought to be conversant withall. And the true stating of it by Faith, is a discriminating character of Believers. This is no Heaven unto any others. Those who have not an experience of the Excellency of these things in their initial state in this World, and their incomparable Transcendency unto all other things, cannot conceive how heavenly Glory and Blessedness should consist in them. Unskilful men may cast away rough unwrought Diamonds as useless Stones; they know not what polishing will bring them unto. Nor do men unskilful in the Mysteries of Godliness, judge there can be any Glory in rough unwrought Grace; they know not what lustre and beauty the polishing of the Heavenly hand will give unto it.

It is generally supposed that however men differ in and about Religion here, yet they agree well enough about Heaven, they would all go to the same Heaven. But it is a great Mistake, they differ in nothing more; they would not all go to the same Heaven. How few are they who value that Heavenly State which we have treated of; or do understand how any blessedness can consist ⟨p. 110⟩in the enjoyment of it? But this and no other Heaven would we go unto. Other notions there may be, there are of it, which being but fruits and effects of mens own Imaginations, the more they dwell in the contemplation of them, the more carnal they may grow, at best the more superstitious. But spiritual Thoughts of this Heaven, consisting principally in freedom from all sin, in the Perfection of all Grace in the vision of the Glory of God in Christ, and all the excellencies of the Divine Nature as manifested in him, are an effectual Means for the improvement of spiritual Life, and the increase of all Graces in us. For they cannot but effect an Assimilation in the Mind and Heart unto the things contemplated on, where the Principles and Seeds of them are already inlaid and begun. This is our first Direction.