revealed we shall chearfully entertain every way and path that leads thereunto as suffering for the Truth doth in a peculiar manner Through this Medium we may look chearfully and comfortably on the loss of Name Reputation Goods Liberty Life it self as knowing in our selves that we have better and more abiding comforts to betake our selves unto And we can no other way glorify God by our Alacrity in the entrance of sufferings than when it ariseth from a prospect into and valuation of those invisible things which he hath promised as an abundant Recompence for all we can lose in this world 2. The great Aggravation of Sufferings is their long continuance without any rational Appearance or hopes of Relief Many who have entred into Sufferings with much Courage and Resolution have been wearied and worn out with their continuance Elijah himself was hereby reduced to pray that God would take away his Life to put an end unto his Ministry and Calamities And not a few in all Ages have been hereby so broken in their natural Spirits and so shaken in the exercise of Faith as that they have lost the Glory of their Confession in seeking deliverance by sinful compliances in the denial of the Truth And although this may be done out of meer weariness as it is the Design of Sathan to wear out the Saints of the most High with reluctance of Mind and a Love yet remaining unto the Truth in their Hearts yet hath it constantly one of these two Effects Some by the overwhelming sorrow that befalls them on the account of their failure in Profession and out of a deep sense of their unkindness unto the Lord Jesus are stirred up immediately unto higher Acts of confession than ever they were before ingaged in and unto an higher Provocation of their Adversaries untill their former troubles are doubled upon them which they frequently undergo with great satisfaction Instances of this nature occurr in all stories of great Persecutions Others being cowed and discouraged in their Profession and perhaps neglected by them whose Duty it was rather to restore them have by the craft of Sathan given place to their Declensions and become vile Apostates To prevent these evils arising from the Duration of sufferings without a prospect of Deliverance nothing is more prevalent than a constant Contemplation on the future Reward and Glory So the Apostle declares it Heb. 11.35 When the Mind is filled with the Thoughts of the unseen Glories of Eternity it hath in readiness what to lay in the Ballance against the longest continuance and Duration of sufferings which in comparison thereunto at their utmost extent are but for a Moment I have insisted the longer on these things because they are the peculiar Object of the Thoughts of them that are indeed Spiritually minded CHAP. VIII Spiritual Thoughts of God himself The Opposition unto them and Neglect of them with their Causes and the way of their Prevalency Predominant Corruptions expelling due Thoughts of God how to be discovered c. Thoughts of God of what nature and what they are to be accompanyed withal c. I Have spoken very briefly unto the first particular Instance of the Heavenly things that we are to fix our Thoughts upon namely the Person of Christ. And I have done it on the Reason before mentioned namely that I intend a peculiar Treatise on that subject or and Enquiry how we may behold the Glory of Christ in this Life and how we shall do so unto Eternity That which I have reserved unto the last place as unto the exercise of their Thoughts about who are Spiritually Minded is that which is the absolute Foundation and Spring of all spiritual things namely God himself He is the Fountain whence all these things proceed and the Ocean wherein they issue He is their Center and Circumference wherein they all begin meet and end So the Apostle issues his profound Discourse of the Councels of the Divine Will and Mysteries of the Gospel Rom. 11.36 Of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever All things arise from his Power are all disposed by his Wisdom into a tendency unto his Glory of him and through him and to him are all things Under that consideration alone are they to be the Objects of our Spiritual Meditations namely as they come from him and tend unto him All other things are finite and limited But they begin and end in that which is immense and infinite So God is All in All. He therefore is or ought to be the only Supream absolute Object of our Thoughts and Desires other things are from and for him only Where our Thoughts do not either immediately and directly or mediately and by just consequence tend unto and End in him they are not Spiritual 1. Pet. 1.21 To make way for Directions how to exercise our Thoughts on God himself some things must be premised concerning a sinful defect herein with the Causes of it 1. It is the great Character of a Man presumptuously and flagitiously wicked that God is not in all his Thoughts Psal. 10.4 That is he is in none of them And of this want of Thoughts of God there are many Degrees for all wicked men are not equally so forgetful of him 1. Some are under the power of Atheistical Thoughts They deny or question or do not avowedly acknowledge the very Being of God This is the height of what the enmity of the carnal Mind can rise unto To acknowledge God and yet to refuse to be subject to his Law or Will a Man would think were as bad if not worse than to deny the Being of God But it is not so That is a Rebellion against his Authority this and Hatred unto the only Fountain of all Goodness Truth and Being and that because they cannot own it but withal they must acknowledge it to be infinitely righteous holy and powerful which would destroy all their desires and security Such may be the Person in the Psalm for the words may be read All his Thoughts are that there is no God Howbeit the Context describes him as one who rather despiseth his Providence than denyeth his Being But such there are whom the same Psalmist elsewhere brands for Fools though themselves seem to suppose that Wisdom was born and will dye with them Psal. 14.1 Psal. 53.1 It may be never any Age since the Flood did more abound with open Atheism among such as pretended unto the use and improvement of Reason than that wherein we live Among the ancient civilized Heathen we hear ever and anon of a person branded for an Atheist yet are not certain whether it was done justly or no. But in all Nations of Europe at this day Cities Courts Towns Fields Armies abound with Persons who if any credit may be given unto what they say or do believe not that there is a God And the Reason hereof may be a little enquired into Now this is no other
and will not be throughly cured in any but by the due exercise of this part of Spiritual-mindedness There are other Duties required also unto the same end namely of the Mortification of our Desires and Affections unto earthly things whereof I have treated elsewhere But without this or a fixed contemplation on the Desirableness Beauty and Glory of Heavenly things it will not be attained Further to evince the Truth hereof we may observe these two things First If by any means a man do seem to have taken off his Heart from the Love of present things and be not at the same time taken up with the Love of things that are Heavenly his seeming Mortification is of no advantage unto him So persons frequently through Discontent Disappointments or dissatisfaction with Relations or meer natural Weariness have left the world the Affairs and cares of it as unto their wonted conversations in it and have betaken themselves to Monasteries Convents or other Retirements suiting their Principles without any Advantage to their Souls Secondly God is no such severe Lord and Master as to require us to take off our Affections from and mortifie them unto those things which the Law of our Nature makes dear unto us as Wives Children Houses Lands and Possessions and not propose unto us somewhat that is incomparably more excellent to fix them upon So he invites the Elect of the Gentiles unto Christ Psal. 45.10 Hearken O Daughter and consider and encline thine ear forget also thine own People and thy Fathers house that is come into the Faith of Abraham who forsook his Country and his Fathers house to follow God whither ever he pleased But he proposeth this for their encouragement ver 11. So shall the King greatly desire thy Beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him The Love of the Great King is an abundant satisfactory Recompence for parting with all things in this world So when Abrahams Servant was sent to take Rebecka for a Wife unto Isaac he required that she should immediately leave Father and Mother Brothers and all enjoyments and go along with him But withall that she might know her self to be no loser thereby he not only assured her of the Greatness of his Master but also at present he gave her Jewels of Silver and Jewels of Gold and Rayment Gen. 24.53 And when our Saviour requires that we should part with all for his sake and the Gospel he promiseth an hundred Fold in lieu of them even in this Life namely in an Interest in things Spiritual and Heavenly Wherefore without an assiduous Meditation on Heavenly things as a better more noble and suitable Object for our Affections to be fixed on we can never be freed in a due manner from an inordinate Love of the things here below It is sad to see some Professors who will keep up spiritual Duties in Churches and in their Families who will speak and discourse of Spiritual Things and keep themselves from the open Excesses of the world yet when they come to be tryed by such Duties as entrench on their Love and adherence unto Earthly Things quickly manifest how remote they are from being Spiritually-minded in a due manner Were they to be tryed as our Saviour tryed the young man who made such a profession of his conscientious and religious conversation Go sell what thou hast give to the poor and follow me something might be pleaded in excuse for their Tergiversation But alas they will decline their Duty when they are not touched unto the hundredth part of their enjoyments I bless God I speak not thus of many of my own knowledge and may say with the Apostle unto the most unto whom I usually speak in this manner But Beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation though we thus speak Heb. 6.9 Yea the same Testimony may be given of many in this City which the same Apostle gives unto the Churches of Macedonia 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3. Vnderstand the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia how that in a great Trial of Affliction the Abundance of their Joy and their Poverty abounded unto the Riches of their Liberality For to their Power and beyond their Power they were willing of themselves There hath been nothing done amongst us that may or can be boasted of yet considering all Circumstances it may be there have not been more Instances of true Evangelical Charity in any Age or Place for these many years For them who have been but useful and helpful herein the Lord remember them for good and spare them according to the Multitude of his Mercies It is true they have not many of them founded Colledges built Hospitals or raised works of State and Magnificence For very many of them are such as whose deep Poverty comparatively hath abounded unto the Riches of their Liberality The Basks and Bellyes of multitudes of poor and needy Servants of Christ have been warmed and refreshed by them blessing God for them Thank 's be to God saith the Apostle in this case for his unspeakable Gift 2 Cor. 9.15 Blessed be God who hath not left the Gospel without this Glory nor the Profession of it without this evidence of its Power and Efficacy Yea God hath exalted the Glory of Persecutions and Afflictions For many since they have lost much of their enjoyments by them and have all endangered continually have abounded in Dutyes of Charity beyond what they did in the dayes of their fulness and prosperity So out of the Eater there hath come forth meat And if the world did but know what Fruits in a way of Charity and Bounty unto the Praise of God and Glory of the Gospel have been occasioned by their making many poor it would abate of their satisfaction in their successes But with many it is not so Their Minds are so full of earthly things they do so cleave unto them in their Affections that no sence of Duty no Example of others no concernment of the Glory of God or the Gospel can make any impressions on them If there be yet in them so much Life and Light of Grace as to design a Deliverance from this woful condition the means insisted on must be made use of Especially this Advice is needful unto those who are Rich who have large Possessions or abound in the Goods of this world The Poor the Afflicted the Sorrowful are prompted from their outward circumstances as well as excited by inward Grace frequently to remember and to think of the Things above wherein lyes their only Reserve and Relief against the trouble and urgency of their present condition But the enjoyment of these things in abundance is accompanyed with a two-fold evil lying directly contrary unto this Duty 1. A Desire of encrease and adding thereunto Earthly enjoyments enlarge mens Earthly Desires and the Love of them grows with their income A moderate stock of Waters sufficient for our use may be kept within ordinary
Thoughts Some wayes that have been found out to keep up a pretence and appearance of it have been and are destructive unto it But herein consists the very Life of all Religion The fear of God is in the Old Testament the usual expression of all the due respect of our Souls unto him and that because where that is not in exercise nothing is accepted with him And thence the whole of our wisdom is said to consist therein and if it be not in a prevalent exercise in all wherein we have to do with him immediately all our Duties are utterly lost as to the Ends of his Glory and the Spiritual Advantage of our own Souls CHAP. IX What of God or in God we are to think and meditate upon His Being Reasons of it Oppositions to it the way of their Conquest Thoughts of the Omnipresence and Omniscience of God peculiarly necessary The Reasons hereof As also of his Omnipotency The Use and Benefit of such Thoughts THese things mentioned have been premised in General as unto the nature manner and way of exercise of our Thoughts on God That which remains is to give some particular instances of what we are to think upon in an especial manner and what we will be conversant withall in our Thoughts if so be we are Spiritually minded And I shall not insist at present on the things which concern his Grace and Love in Christ Jesus which belong unto another head but on those which have an Immediate respect unto the Divine Nature it self and its holy essential Properties 1. Think much of the Being and Existence of God Herein lyes the Foundation of all our Relation and access unto him Heb. 11.6 He that cometh unto God must believe that he is This is the first Object of Faith and it is the first Act of Reason and being the sole Foundation of all Religion it is our duty to be exercised unto multiplied Thoughts about it renewed on all occasions For many who are not direct Atheists yet live without any solid well-grounded Assent unto the Divine being They do not so believe it as to be practically influenced with the Consideration of it It is granted that the inbred Light of Nature in the due exercise of Reason will give any Rational creature satisfaction in the Being of God But there is in the most an Anticipation of any Thoughts of this nature by Tradition and Education which hath invited men into an assent unto it they know not how They never call'd it into question nor have as they suppose any cause so to do Nature it self startles at the first Thoughts of denying of it but if ever such persons on any urgent occasions come to have real Thoughts about it they are at a loss and fluctuate in their minds as not having any certain indubitable convicton of its truth Wherefore as our Knowledge of the Divine Being is as to the Foundation of it laid in the Light of Nature the Operation of Conscience and the due exercise of Reason about the works and effects of infinite Power and Wisdom so it ought to be increased and rendred useful by faith in Divine Revelations and the Experience of Divine power through them By this Faith we ought to let in frequent thoughts of the Divine being and Existence And that on two Reasons rendring the duty necessary in an Eminent manner in this Age wherein we live 1. The abounding of Atheism both Notional and Practical The Reasons of it have been given before and the matter of fact is evident unto any Ordinary observation And on two accounts with respect hereunto we ought to abound in Thoughts of Faith concerning the Being of God 1. An especial Testimony is required in us in opposition to this cursed effect of Hell He therefore who is spiritually minded cannot but have many Thoughts of the Being of God thereby giving Glory to him Isai. 43.9 10 11 12. Let all the Nations be gathered together and let the people be assembled who among them can declare this and shew us former things let them bring forth their witnesses that they may be justified or let them hear and say It is truth Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me I even I am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour I have declared and have saved and I have shewed when there was no strange god among you therefore ye are my witnesses saith the Lord that I am God Chap. 44.8 Fear ye not neither be afraid have not I told thee from that time and have declared it ye are even my witnesses Is there a God besides me yea there is no God I know not any 2. We shall have occasion of them continually administred unto us Those Atheistical impieties principles and practices which abound amongst us are grievous provocations unto all pious Souls Without frequent retreat unto Thoughts of the Being of God there is no relief nor refreshment to be had under them Such was the case of Noah in the old World and of Lot in Sodom which rendred their Graces illustrious 2. Because of the unaccountable Confusions that all things are fill'd withall at this day in the World Whatever in former times hath been a Temptation in humane Affairs unto any of the People of God it abounds at this day Never had men profane and profligate greater outward appearances to strengthen them in their Atheism nor those that are Godly greater Tryals for their Faith with respect unto the visible State of things in the world The Psalmist of old on such an occasion was almost surprized into unbelieving complaints Psal. 73.2 3 4 c. And such surprizals may now also befall us that we may be ready to say with him Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in Innocency for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning Hence when the Prophet Habakkuk was exercised with Thoughts about such a state of things as is at this day in the World which he declares Chap. 1.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. he layes the foundation of his consideration in the fresh exercise of Faith on the Being and Properties of God v. 12 13. And David makes that his Retreat on the like occasion Psal. 11.3 4 5. In such a season as this is upon both the accounts mentioned those who are spiritually minded will much exercise their Thoughts about the Being and Existence of God They will say within themselves Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous verily he is a God who judgeth in the earth Hence will follow such apprehensions of the Immensity of his Nature of his eternal Power and Infinite Wisdom of his absolute Soveraignty as will hold their Souls firm and stedfast in the highest storms of Temptation that may befall them Yet are there
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 enlightned 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 designes 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 but false Images of Spiritual things in our Minds not alwayes 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 This attracts them if they are Spiritually renewed and causeth them to cleave with Delight unto what is so proposed unto them He that believes in Christ in a due manner who thereon discovers the Excellency of his Person and the Glory of his Mediation will both love him and on his Believing rejoyce with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory So is it in all other Instances the more steady is our view by Faith of Spiritual things the more firm and constant will our Affections be in cleaving unto them And wherever the Mind is darkned about them by Temptation or Seduction from the Truth there the Affections will be quickly weakned and impaired Wherefore Thirdly Affections thus lead unto and fixed on Spiritual and Heavenly things under the Light and Conduct of Faith are more and more renewed or made in themselves more Spiritual and Heavenly They are in their cleaving unto them and delight in them continually changed and Assimulated unto the things themselves becomming more and more to be what they are namely Spiritual and Heavenly This Transformation is wrought by Faith and is one of the most excellent Faculties and Operations see 2 Cor. 3.18 And the meanes whereby it works herein are our Affections In them as we are Carnal we are conformed unto this World and by them as Sanctifyed are we transformed in the renewing of our Minds Rom. 12.2 And this Transformation is the Introduction of a new Form or Nature into our Souls diverse from that wherewith we were before endued So is it described Isaiah 11.6 7 8 9. A Spiritual Nature they were changed into And it is twofold First Original and Radical as to the Substance or Essence of it which is the Effect of the first Act of Divine Grace upon our Souls when we are made new Creatures Herein our Affections are passive they do not transform us but are transformed Secondly Gradual as unto its Increase and therein Faith works in and by the Affections Whenever the Affections do cleave intensely unto any Object they receive an Impression from it as the Wax doth from the Seal when applyed unto it which changeth them into its own likeness So the Apostle affirms of sensual unclean Persons they have Eyes full of Adultery 2 Pet. 2.14 Their Affections are so wholly possessed and filled with their lustful Objects as that they have brought forth their own likeness upon their Imaginations That blots out all others and leaves them no Inclinations but what they stir up in them When men are filled with the Love of this World which carries along with it all their other Affections their Hopes Fears and Desires unto a constant Exercise about the same Object they become Earthly-Minded Their Minds are so changed into the Image of the things themselves by the effectual working of the corrupt Principles of Sin Self-Love and Lust as if they were made up of the Earth and therefore have no Savour of any thing else In like manner when by Faith men come to embrace Heavenly things through the effectual Working of a Principle of Spiritual Life and Grace in them they are every day more and more made Heavenly The Inward Man is renewed day by Day Love is more sincere and ardent Delight is more ravishing and sensible Desires are more inlarged and intense and by all a Tast and Relish of Heavenly things is heightned into refreshing Experience see Rom. 5.2 3 4 5. This is the way whereby one Grace is added unto another 2 Pet. 1.5 6. in Degrees Great is the Assimulation between renewed Affections and their Spiritual Objects that by this means may be attained The Mind hereby becomes the Temple of God wherein he dwells by the Spirit Christ also dwelleth in Believers and they in him God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 John 4.16 Love in its proper Exercise gives a mutual Inhabitation unto God and Believers In brief he whose Affections are set upon Heavenly things in a due manner will be Heavenly-Minded And in the due Exercise of them will that Heavenly Mindedness be encreased The Transformation and Assimulation that is wrought is not in the Object or Spiritual things themselves they are not changed neither in themselves nor in the Representation made of them unto our Minds But the Change is in our Affections which are made like unto them Two Cases deriving from this Principle and Consideration may be here spoken unto and shall be so the first in this and the other in the following Chapter The one is concerning the Slowness and Imperceptibility of the Growth of our Affections in their Assimulation unto
and make our Souls meet for the Reception and entertainment of him Wherefore 3. Our want of experience in the power of this Holy entercourse and communion with Christ ariseth principally from our Defect in this Duty I have known one who after a long Profession of Faith and Holiness fell into great Darkness and distress meerly on this account that he did not experience in himself the Sweetness Life and Power of the Testimonies given concerning the real Communications of the Love of Christ unto and the intimation of his Presence with Believers He knew well enough the Doctrine of it but did not feel the Power of it at least he understood there was more in it than he had experience of God carryed him by Faith through that Darkness but taught him withal that no sence of these things was to be let into the Soul but by constant Thoughtfulness and Contemplations on Christ. How many blessed visits do we lose by not being exercised unto this Duty See Cant. 5.1 2 3. Sometimes we are busie sometimes careless and negligent sometimes slothful sometimes under the power of Temptations so that we neither enquire after nor are ready to receive them This is not the way to have our Joyes abound Again I speak now with especial respect unto him in Heaven The Glory of his Presence as God and Man eternally united the Discharge of his Mediatory Office as he is at the right hand of God the Glory of his present acting for the Church as he is the Minister of the Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle which God hath fixed and not Man the Love Power and Efficacy of his Intercession whereby he takes care for the Accomplishment of the Salvation of the Church the approach of his Glorious coming unto Judgment are to be the Objects of our daily Thoughts and Meditations Let us not mistake our selves To be spiritually minded is not to have the Notions and Knowledge of spiritual things in our minds it is not to be constant no not to abound in the performance of Duties both which may be where there is no Grace in the Heart at all It is to have our Minds really exercised with delight about Heavenly things the things that are above especially Christ himself as at the right hand of God Again So think of eternal things as continually to lay them in the Ballance against all the sufferings of this Life This use of it I have spoken unto somewhat before and it is necessary it should be pressed upon all occasions It is very probable that we shall yet suffer more than we have done Those who have gone before us have done so it is foretold in the Scripture that if we will live Godly in Christ Jesus we must do so we stand in need of it and the World is prepared to bring it on us And as we must suffer so it is necessary unto the Glory of God and our own Salvation that we suffer in a due manner Meer sufferings will neither commend us unto God nor any way advantage our own Souls When we suffer acording to the will of God it is an eminent Grace Gift and Priviledge Psal. 1.29 But many things are required hereunto It is not enough that men suppose themselves to suffer for Conscience sake though if we do not so all our sufferings are in vain Nor is it enough that we suffer for this or that way of Profession in Religion which we esteem to be true and according to the Mind of God in opposition unto what is not so The Glory of Sufferings on these accounts solely hath been much sullied in the dayes wherein we live It is evident that Persons out of a natural Courage accompanied with deep radicate perswasions and having their minds influenced with some sinister ends may undergo things hard and difficult in giving Testimony unto what is not according to the Mind of God Examples we have had hereof in all Ages and in that wherein we live in an especial manner See 1 Pet. 4.14 15 16. We have had enough to take off all paint and appearance of Honour from them who in their sufferings are deceived in what they profess But men may from the same Principles suffer for what is indeed according to the Mind of God yea may give their bodyes to be burned therein and yet not to his Glory nor their own eternal Advantage Wherefore we are duely to consider all things that are requisite to make our sufferings acceptable unto God and honourable unto the Gospel I have observed in many a frame of Spirit with respect unto sufferings that I never saw good event of when it was tryed to the uttermost Boldness confidence a pretended contempt of hardships and scorning other men whom they suppose defective in these things are the Garments or Livery they wear on this Occasion Such Principles may carry men out in a bad Cause they will never do so in a good Evangelical Truth will not be honourably witnessed unto but by Evangelical Graces Distrust of our selves a due apprehension of the nature of the evils to be undergone and of our own frailty with continual Prayers to be delivered from them or supported under them and prudent care to avoid them without an inroad on conscience or neglect of Duty are much better preparations for an entrance into a state of Suffering Many things belong unto our Learning aright this first and last Lesson of the Gospel namely of bearing the Cross or undergoing all sorts of sufferings for the Profession of it But they belong not unto our present Occasion This only is that which we now press as an evidence of our sincerity in our sufferings and an effectual means to enable us chearfully to undergo them which is to have such a continual prospect of the future state of Glory so as to lay it in the Ballance against all that we may undergo For 1. To have our Minds filled and possessed with Thoughts thereof will give us an Alacrity in our entrance into sufferings in a way of Duty Other considerations will offer themselves unto our Relief which will quickly fade and disappear They are like a Cordial Water which gives a little Relief for a Season and then leaves the Spirits to sink beneath what they were before it was taken Some relieve themselves from the consideration of the Nature of their Sufferings they are not so great but that they may conflict with them and come off with safety But there is nothing of that kind so small which will not prove too hard and strong for us unless we have especial Assistance Some do the same from their Duration they are but for ten dayes or six months and then they shall be free Some from the Compassion and esteem of Men. These and the like considerations are apt to occur unto the minds of all sorts of Persons whether they are spiritually minded or no. But when our Minds are accustomed unto Thoughts of the Glory that shall be