The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

(1.) Faith hath continual Recourse unto him on the account of what he did and suffered for us in this world. For thereon, Pardon of sin, Justification and Peace with God do depend. This ariseth in the first place from a sense of our own wants. But Love of him is no less necessary unto us than Faith in him. And although we have powerful Motives unto Love, from what he did and was in this world, yet the formal Reason of our Adherence unto him thereby is what he is in himself, as he is now exalted in Heaven. If we rejoice not at the Remembrance of his present Glory, if the Thoughts of it be not frequent with us and refreshing unto us, how dwelleth his Love in us?

(1.) Faith hath continual Recourse unto him on the account of what he did and suffered for us in this world. For thereon, Pardon of sin, Justification and Peace with God do depend. This ariseth in the first place from a sence of our own wants. But Love of him is no less necessary unto us than Faith in him. And although we have powerful Motives unto Love, from what he did and was in this world, yet the formal Reason of our Adherence unto him thereby is what he is in himself, as he is now exalted in Heaven. If we rejoyce not at the Remembrance of his present Glory, if the Thoughts of it be not frequent with us and refreshing unto us, how dwelleth his Love in us?

(2.) Our Hope is that ere long we shall be ever with him. And if so, it is certainly our Wisdom and Duty to be here with him as much as we can. It is a vain thing for any to suppose that they place their chiefest happiness in being for ever in the Presence of Christ, who care not at all to be with him here as they may. And the only way of our being present with him here, is by Faith and Love, acting themselves in Spiritual Thoughts and Affections. And it is an absurd thing for men to esteem themselves Christians, who scarce think of Christ all the day long. Yet some, as one complained of old, scarce ever think or speak of him but when they swear by his Name. I have read of them who have lived and dyed in continual Contemplation on him, so far as the Imperfection of our present state will admit. I have known them, I do know them, who call themselves unto a Reproof if at any time he hath been many minutes out of their Thoughts. And it is strange