The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly. There is an Universality that is Objective in Spiritual things, with respect unto the Renovation of our Affections, that is, Affections Spiritually renewed do fix themselves upon, and cleave unto all all Spiritual things in their proper places, and unto their proper Ends. For the Ground and ⟨p. 215⟩Reason of our adherence unto any one of them, are the same with respect unto them all. That is their Relation unto God in Christ. Wherefore when our Affections are renewed, we make no choice in Spiritual things, cleaving unto some, and refusing others, making use of Naamans restraint, but our adherence is the same unto them all in their proper places and Degrees. And if by reason of Darkness and Ignorance, we know not any of them to be from God, as for Instance, the Observation of the Lords Day, it is of unspeakable Disadvantages unto us. An equal respect is required in us unto all Gods Commands. Yet there are various Distinctions in Spiritual things. And thereon a man may, and ought to value one above another, as unto the Degrees of his Love and Esteem, although they are to be sincere with respect unto them all.

First. God himself, that is, as revealed in and by Christ, is in the first and chiefest place the proper and adequate Object of our Affections, as they are renewed. He is so for himself, or his own Sake alone. This is the Spring, the Centre, and chief Object of our Love. He that loves not God for himself, that is, for what he is in himself, and what from himself alone, he is, and will be unto us in Christ, which Considerations are inseparable, he hath no true Affection for any Spiritual thing whatever. And not a few do here deceive themselves, or are deceived, which should make us the more strict and diligent in the Examination of our selves. They suppose that they love Heaven and Heavenly things, and the Duties of Divine Worships, which Persuasion maybe fall them on many Grounds and Occasions, which will not endure the Trial. But as unto God himself, they can give no Evidence that they have any Love to him, either on the account of the Glorious Excellencies of his Nature, with their natural Relation unto him, and Dependence on him, nor on the account of the Manifestation of himself in Christ, and the Exercise of his Grace therein. But whatever be pretended,