First Then, for Clearing what a Heavenly Conversation is, ye would consider, that the Apostle speaks of his own and of some few other Godly persons their conversation, in opposition to those many mentioned by him before: And it imports or implies these Four. First it's to have Heaven proposed to our selves as our great Scope and design, next to the glory of God; even as, to have an earthly Conversation, is to mind earthly things, to have a bentness of spirit towards them, and to be wholly or Mostly taken up about the things of the World: So to be Heavenly in our Conversation, is to have the mind taken up about Heaven, Prizing, affecting and seeking after Heaven and Heavenly things, as the word is, Col. 3.1. Seek after, or set your affections on those things that are above. Secondly, As it imports, Prizing and affecting of Heaven and of Heavenly things, so it imports the taking of that way that leads to the end: and so it is, to be in the use of all means and duties that lead to Heaven, seek (saith the Apostle, in that Col. 3.1.) Those things that are above: Set your affections on things above, not on things beneath, or on the earth: To hold forth the earnestness and ardency of affections that Christians ought to have towards things heavenly: and how very much they should be with Holy care and solicitude, busied in the use of all means, and in the Practice of all duties, for the furthering and promoting of an Heavenly design: even as worldly men are taken up and exercised with carking cares, leaving (as it were) no stone unmoved to promove and compass their earthly designs. Thirdly, It imports the ⟨p. 111⟩having of our Conversation like heaven, to be walking like those that are in Heaven: not to be conformed to the World, or like the men of the world, but to be like Angels and Glorified Saints in Heaven, according to our Capacity: as we are taught to pray, in the Lords Prayer, They will be done on earth, as it is done in Heaven: It's to have a native and kindly suitableness and proportionableness to them that are glorified in Heaven. Fourthly, It imports this, that we should be often in Heaven as to our thoughts and affections, as to our desires and delights: Though we be living on the earth: that we should have as it were, more then our one half in heaven: as David hath it Psal. 25.1. Unto thee O Lord, do I lift up my soul: or as the Word is, 2 Cor. 5.
First Then, for Clearing what a Heavenly Conversation is, ye would consider, that the Apostle speaks of his owne and of some few other Godly persons their conversation, in opposition to those many mentioned by him before: And it imports or implies these Four. First it's to have Heaven proposed to our selves as our great Scope and designe, next to the glory of God; even as, to have an earthly Conversation, is to mind earthly things, to have a bentness of spirit towards them, and to be wholly or Mostly taken up about the things of the World: So to be Heavenly in our Conversation, is to have the mind taken up about Heaven, Prizing, affecting and seeking after Heaven and Heavenly things, as the word is, Col. 3.1. Seek after, or set your affections on those things that are above. Secondly, As it imports, Prizing and affecting of Heaven and of Heavenly things, so it imports the taking of that way that leads to the end: and so it is, to be in the use of all means and duties that lead to Heaven, seek (saith the Apostle, in that Col. 3.1.) Those things that are above: Set your affections on things above, not on things beneath, or on the earth: To hold forth the earnestness and ardency of affections that Christians ought to have towards things heavenly: and how very much they should be with Holy care and solicitude, busied in the use of all means, and in the Practice of all duties, for the furthering and promoting of an Heavenly designe: even as worldly men are taken up and exercised with carking cares, leaving (as it were) no stone unmoved to promove and compass their earthly designes. Thirdly, It imports the ⟨p. 111⟩having of our Conversation like heaven, to be walking like those that are in Heaven: not to be conformed to the World, or like the men of the world, but to be like Angels and Glorified Saints in Heaven, according to our Capacitie: as we are taught to pray, in the Lords Prayer, They will be done on earth, as it is done in Heaven: It's to have a native and kindly suitableness and proportionableness to them that are glorified in Heaven. Fourthly, It imports this, that we should be often in Heaven as to our thoughts and affections, as to our desires and delights: Though we be living on the earth: that we should have as it were, more then our one half in heaven: as David hath it Psal. 25.1. Unto thee O Lord, do I lift up my soul: or as the Word is, 2 Cor. 5.
