The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

4. Diligent use of Means to furnish the Soul with that Light and Knowledge of Heavenly things, which ⟨p. 178⟩may administer continual matter of holy Thoughts and Meditations from within our selves. This hath been spoken unto at large before. And the want hereof is that which keeps many from the least Proficiency in these Duties. As a man may have some skill or ability for a Trade, yet if he have no Materials to work upon, he must sit still and let his Trade alone. And so must men do as unto the work of Holy Meditation: whatever be the Ability of the natural Faculties, their Inventions or Memories, if they are not furnished with Knowledge of things Spiritual and Heavenly, which are the subject matter of such Meditations, they must let their work alone. Hence the Apostle prays for the Colossians, that the Word of God might dwell in them richly in all Wisdom, Chap. 3.16. That is, that they might abound in the knowledge of the mind of Christ, without which we shall be unfit for this Duty.

5. Unweariedness in our Conflict with Satan, who by various Artifices and the Injection of fiery darts labours continually to divert us from these Duties. He is seldom or never wanting unto this occasion. He who is furnished in any measure with spiritual Wisdom and Understanding, may find him more sensibly at work in his Craft and Opposition with respect unto this Duty, than any other way. When we stand thus before the Lord, he is always at our right hand to resist us. And oft-times his Strength is great. Hence, as was observed, oft-times men design really to exercise themselves in holy Thoughts, but end in vain Imaginations, and rather take up with Trifles than continue in this Duty. Steadiness in the Resistance of him on these Occasions, is one great part of our Spiritual Warfare. And we may know that ⟨image 95⟩he is at work by his Engines and Methods. For they consist in his Suggestions of vain, foolish or corrupt Imaginations. When they begin to rise in our Minds, at such times as we would engage them in Spiritual Meditation, we may know assuredly from whence they are.