The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

And our Fear so far as it is Spiritual, hath divine Goodness for its Object, Hos. 3.5. Unless this be that which draws our Hearts unto God, and the things of God, in all Pretence of Love unto him, men do but Frame Idols to themselves according to their own Understanding, as the Prophet speaks, Hos. 13.2. Wherefore that our Affections may cleave unto Spiritual things in a due manner three things are required.

(1) That we apprehend, and do find a Goodness, a Beauty, and thence an Amiableness, and Desirableness in them▪ ••ech. •.17. Many pretend to love God and Spiritual things, but they know not why. Why they love other things they know well enough but why they love God they cannot tell. Many are afraid of him, & suppose they ought to love him, and therefore pretend so to do though indeed they know they do not, they do but flatter him with their lips when their hearts are far from him. Some are much affected with the Benefits and Mercies they receive from him, and suppose that they love him on that account. But this love is no other but what the Devil falsely charged Job withal, Chap. 1.8, 9, 10, 11. Some have Delight in the outward Modes and Rites of Divine Worship, wherewith they satisfy themselves that they love God and Spiritual things, when they only please their own Imaginations and Carnal Minds. Many have a Traditional Apprehension that they ought to love God, they know no reason why they should not, they know it will be ill for them if they do not, and these take it for granted that they do. How few are there, who have that Spiritual discerning ⟨p. 301⟩and apprehension of the divine Excellencies, that view of the Excellency of the Goodness and Love of God in Christ, as thereby alone to be drawn after him, and to delight in him, yet is this the ground of all sincere real love unto God. Two things are required that we may apprehend an amiable Goodness in any thing, and cleave unto it with sincere Affection.