The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly, Having fixed right Notions and Apprehensions of Heavenly things in our minds, it is our Duty to think and contemplate greatly on them, and our own concernment in them. Without this all our Speculations concerning the nature of eternal things, will be of no use unto us. And unto your Encouragement and Direction, take these few short Rules relating unto this Duty. (1.) Here lies the great Trial whether we are spiritually minded or no, by virtue of this Rule; If we are risen with Christ, we will mind the things that are above, Col. 3.3. (2.) Here lies the great Means whereby we may attain further degrees in that blessed frame of mind, if it be already formed in us, by virtue of that Rule; Beholding the Glory of God as in a Glass, we are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory, 2 Cor. 3.18. (3.) Here lies the great Evidence whether we have a real interest in the things above or no; whether we place our Portion and Blessedness in them, by virtue of that Rule; Where our Treasure is, there will our Hearts be also. Are they our Treasure, our Portion, our Reward, ⟨p. 111⟩in comparison whereof all other things are but loss and dung? we shall assuredly be conversant in our minds about them. (4.) It cannot be imagined, that a man should have in him a Principle cognate and suited unto things above, of the same kind and nature with them, that his Soul should be under the conduct of those habits of Grace, which strive and naturally tend unto Perfection, labouring greatly here under the weight of their own weaknesses, as it is with all who are truly Spiritually Minded, and yet not have his Thoughts greatly exercised about these things, 1 Joh. 3.3.

Secondly, Having fixed right Notions and Apprehensions of Heavenly things in our minds, it is our Duty to think and contemplate greatly on them, and our own concernment in them. Without this all our Speculations concerning the nature of eternal things, will be of no use unto us. And unto your Encouragement and Direction, take these few short Rules relating unto this Duty. (1.) Here lyes the great Trial whether we are spiritually minded or no, by vertue of this Rule; If we are risen with Christ, we will mind the things that are above,