The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly, Faith hath a clear prospect into, and Apprehension of Spiritual things, as they are in themselves, and in their own nature. It is true, the Light of it cannot fully comprehend the nature of all those things which are the Objects of its Affections, For they are infinite and incomprehensible, such as are the Nature of God, and the Person of Christ; and some of them, as future Glory, are not yet clearly revealed: But it discerns them all in a due manner, so as that they may in themselves, and not in any corrupt Representation, or Imagination of them, be the Object of our Affections. They are as the Apostle speaks, Spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. which is the reason why the natural man cannot receive them, namely, because he hath not Ability Spiritually to discern them. And this is the principal end of the Renovation of our Minds, the principal quality and effect of Faith, namely, the Communication unto our Minds, and the acting in us, of a Spiritual Saving Light, whereby we may see and discern Spiritual things as they are in their own Nature, Kind, and proper Use, see Ephes. 1.17, 18, 19. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him. The Eyes of your Understanding being enlightened: that ye know what is the hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints, and what is the exceeding Greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty Power. 2 Cor. 4.6. God shines in our Hearts, to give the Light of the Knowledge of his Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ. The End God designs, is to draw our Hearts and Affections unto himself. And unto this end, he gives unto us a glorious internal Light, whereby we may be enabled to discern the true nature of the things that we are to cleave unto with Love and Delight. Without this we have nothing ⟨p. 258⟩but false Images of Spiritual things in our Minds: not always as unto the Truth or Doctrine concerning them, but as unto their Reality, Power and Efficacy. This is one of the principal Effects of Faith, as it is the principal part of the Renovation of our Minds, namely, to discover in the Soul and represent unto the Affections things Spiritual and Heavenly, in their Nature, Beauty, and genuine Excellency.