The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

When a Soul through manifold discouragements and despondencies withdraws, and as it were hides it self from him, he calleth to see a poor weeping, blubbered face, and to hear a broken voice, that scarce goes beyond sighs and groans. (2.) These ⟨p. 120⟩Thoughts are the only Means, whereby we comply with the gracious intimations of his Love mentioned before. By them do we hear his Knocking, know his Voice, and open the door of our Hearts to give him entrance, that he may abide and sup with us. Sometimes indeed the Soul is surprised into Acts of Gracious Communion with Christ, Cant. 6.11. But they are not to be expected unless we abide in those ways and means which prepare and make our Souls meet for the Reception and entertainment of him. Wherefore, (3.) Our want of experience in the power of this Holy intercourse and communion with Christ, ariseth principally from our Defect in this Duty. I have known one who after a long Profession of Faith and Holiness, fell into great Darkness and distress, merely on this account, that he did not experience in himself, the Sweetness, Life, and Power of the Testimonies given concerning the real Communications of the Love of Christ unto, and the intimation of his Presence with Believers. He knew well enough the Doctrine of it, but did not feel the Power of it; at least he understood there was more in it, than he had experience of. God carried him by Faith through that Darkness; but taught him withal, that no sense of these things was to be let into the Soul, but by constant Thoughtfulness and Contemplations on Christ. How many blessed visits do we lose, by not being exercised unto this Duty. See Cant. 5.1, 2, 3. Sometimes we are busy, sometimes careless and negligent, sometimes slothful, sometimes under the power of Temptations, so that we neither enquire after, nor are ready to receive them. This is not the way to have our Joys abound.

When a Soul through manifold discouragements and despondencies withdraws, and as it were hides it self from him, he calleth to see a poor weeping, blubbered face, and to hear a broken voice, that scarce goes beyond sighs and groans. (2.) These ⟨p. 120⟩