The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

However, trust not to times that will offer themselves. Take them not up at hazard. Let the time it self be a free-will Offering to God, taken from the Top of the heap, or the Choicest part of your useful Time.

(2.) Preparation of Mind unto a due Reverence of God and spiritual things, is required previously hereunto. When we go about this duty, if we rush into thoughts of heavenly things without a due reverential preparation, we shall quickly find ourselves ⟨image 99⟩at a loss. See the Rule, Eccles. 5.1, 2. Grace to serve God with reverence and Godly fear, is required in all things wherein we have to do with him, as in this duty we have in an immediate and especial manner. Endeavour therefore in the first place to get your hearts deeply affected with an awful reverence of God, and an holy regard unto the heavenly nature of the things you would meditate upon. Hereby your Minds will be composed, and the roots of other thoughts, be they vain or earthly, which are apt to arise and divert you from this duty, will be cast out. The principles of these contrary Thoughts are like Jacob and Esau, they struggle in the same womb, and often-times Esau will come first forth, and for a while seem to carry the Birth-right. If various thoughts do conflict in our Minds, some for this world, and some for another, those for this world may carry it for a season. But where a due Reverence of God hath cast out the Bond-woman and her Children, the workings of the Flesh in its vain Thoughts and Imaginations, the Mind will be at liberty to exercise it self on spiritual things.

(3.) Earnest Desires after a renewed sense and relish of Spiritual things are required hereunto. If we engage into this duty merely on a conviction of the necessity of it, or set our selves about it because we think we ought to do so, and it will not be well done utterly to neglect it, we may not expect to be successful in it: But when the Soul hath at any time tasted that the Lord is gracious, when its Meditations on him have been sweet, when Spiritual things have had a Savour and Relish in the mind and Affections, and hereon it comes unto this