The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

I would therefore press this unknown, this neglected Duty on the minds of those of us in an especial manner, who are visibly drawing nigh unto Eternity. The Days are coming, wherein what God is in himself, that is as manifest and exerted in Christ, shall alone be (as we hope) the Eternal Blessedness and Reward of our Souls. Is it possible that any thing should be more necessary ⟨p. 144⟩for us, more useful unto us, than to be exercised in such Thoughts and Contemplations. The Benefits we may have hereby are not to be reckoned, some of them only may be named. As (1.) We shall have the best Trial of our selves, how our hearts really stand affected towards God. For if upon Examination we find our selves not really to delight and rejoice in God, for what he is in himself, and that all Perfections are eternally resident in him, how dwelleth the Love of God in us? But if we can truly rejoice at the Remembrance of his Holiness, in the Thoughts of what he is, our Hearts are upright with him. (2.) This is that which will effectually take off our Thoughts and Affections from things here below. One spiritual view of the Divine Goodness, Beauty and Holiness, will have more efficacy to raise the heart unto a contempt of all earthly things, than any other Evidences whatever. (3.) It will increase the Grace of being heavenly minded in us, on the Grounds before declared. (4.) It is the best, I had almost said, it is the only Preparation for the future full enjoyment of God. This will gradually lead us into his Presence, take away all fears of Death, increase our longing after Eternal Rest, and ever make us groan to be unclothed. Let us not than cease labouring with our hearts, until through Grace, we have a spiritually sensible Delight and Joy in the Remembrances and Thoughts of what God is in himself.

I would therefore press this unknown, this neglected Duty on the minds of those of us in an especial manner, who are visibly drawing nigh unto Eternity. The Daies are coming, wherein what God is in himself, that is as manifest and exerted in Christ, shall alone be (as we hope) the Eternal Blessedness and Reward of our Souls. Is it possible that any thing should be more necessary ⟨p. 144⟩for us, more useful unto us, than to be exercised in such Thoughts and Contemplations. The Benefits we may have hereby are not to be reckoned, some of them only may be named. As (1.) We shall have the best Trial of our selves, how our hearts really stand affected towards God. For if upon Examination we find our selves not really to delight and rejoyce in God, for what he is in himself, and that all Perfections are eternally resident in him, how dwelleth the Love of God in us? But if we can truely rejoyce at the Remembrance of his Holiness, in the Thoughts of what he is, our Hearts are upright with him. (2.) This is that which will effectually take off our Thoughts and Affections from things here below. One spiritual view of the Divine Goodness, Beauty and Holiness, will have more efficacy to raise the heart unto a contempt of all earthly things, than any other Evidences whatever. (3.) It will encrease the Grace of being heavenly minded in us, on the Grounds before declared. (4.) It is the best, I had almost said, it is the only Preparation for the future full enjoyment of God. This will gradually lead us into his Presence, take away all fears of Death, increase our longing after Eternal Rest, and ever make us groan to be uncloathed. Let us not than cease labouring with our hearts, until through Grace, we have a spiritually sensible Delight and Joy in the Remembrances and Thoughts of what God is in himself.