The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

First, God himself makes it on his part a ground and reason of his Return unto us, in a way of Mercy, and of the Continuance of his Love, Jer. 2.2. Even when a People are under manifold Decays, whilst yet they are within the Bounds of Gods Covenant and Mercy, he will remember their first Love with the Fruits and Actings of it in Trials and Temptations, which moves his Compassion towards them. And the way to have God thus remember it, is for us to remember with Delight and longing of Soul that it ⟨p. 284⟩were with us as in those Days of old, when we had the Love of Espousals for God in Christ, Jeremiah 31.18, 19, 20.

First, God himself makes it on his part a ground and reason of his Return unto us, in a way of Mercy, and of the Continuance of his Love, Jer. 2.2. Even when a People are under manifold Decays, whil'st yet they are within the Bounds of Gods Covenant and Mercy, he will remember their first Love with the Fruits and Actings of it in Tryals and Temptations, which moves his Compassion towards them. And the way to have God thus remember it, is for us to remember with Delight and longing of Soul that it ⟨p. 284⟩were with us as in those Dayes of old, when we had the Love of Espousals for God in Christ, Jeremiah 31.18, 19, 20.

Secondly, It is the way whereby the Saints of old have refreshed and encouraged themselves under their greatest Despondencies. So doth the Psalmist in many places, as for Instance, Psal. 42.6. O my God, my Soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the Land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the Hill Mizar. David in the time of his Persecution by Saul, when he wandered up and down in Deserts, Wildernesses, and Solitudes, had under his Fears, Distresses, and Exercise, great, holy, Spiritual Communion with God, as many of his Psalms composed on such Occasions do testify. And the greater his distresses were, the more fervent were his Affections in all his Addresses unto God. And he was never in greater than when he escaped out of the Cave at Adullam, and went thence unto Mizpheh of Moab, to get shelter for his Parents,