A Word to Sinners and a Word to Saints, Part 1 · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV. Of Heavenly-mindedness.
ANother singular duty incumbent upon the Regenerate is, to be spiritually minded by a frequent contemplation of spiritual and Heavenly things. It is not some few, slitting, transient thoughts on God or Heaven, wherein this duty consists: but thoughts resting and fixing on some spiritual subject. The truth is, the thoughts of all men fly up and down like birds in the aire, or chaff in the wind: and some of these may light sometimes on God, or Heaven: but they are soon off and fixed on some worldly matter, or some impertinencies or other: and therefore cannot denominate a man to be spiritually-minded; which is another manner of business than many are aware of. It's a thinking with thought upon thought, a reiteration and multiplication of the thoughts of the mind upon God, and the things of God, and this in order to the affecting the heart deeply with them.
It is not sufficient to think and think oft of the love and goodness of God, but we must labour to get our hearts inflamed with a love unto him again. It is not sufficient to think and think often of sin, and the misery it hath implunged as in; but we must so think thereof, as to work our hearts to an hatred of sin, and a fear of that wrath of God it hath exposed us, and made us lyable to, and to a looking after Jesus Christ, who alone can free us from the guilt of our sins, and from the punishment due unto us for the same.
This is a work of so great concernment and advantage, as none can truly apprehend, but such as have made tryal therein. David who was a man full of Holy and Heavenly affections, was full of Heavenly meditation. And from the experience of that abundant sweetness and comfort he found therein, doth often in his book of Psalms commend it unto others; and pronounceth that man blessed who meditates in the Law of God day and night.Psal. 1.2.
Let thy soul full often soar aloft upon the wings of divine contemplation. Let not any solitary season pass away without some spiritual meditation, and conference with thy God. Either take a sorrowfull survey of thy manifold sins, which may draw from thee as hearty grief for the same, so hearty ejaculations for the pardon and forgiveness of them. Or take a view of Gods blessings and favours towards thee; and let this inlarge and raise up thine heart in praises and thanksgivings unto him. Or bath thy self in an admiring commemoration of the meritorious blood of the immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus, which was abundantly shed for the washing of thy body and soul from the filthy spots and stains of sin. Seriously think what he hath done and suffered for thee; how he hath fullfilled the Law, and undergone the punishment due to thy sins; and now in Heaven maketh intercession for thee, by presenting himself an allsufficient Sacrifice unto his Father for thy sins. Oh think with thy self, what thou must have suffered for thy sins, if he had not suffered for them. What thou hadst been, if he had not redeemed thee, even a bondslave of Satan, and fire-brand of hell.
Especially, let thy soul full often meditate on the glorious things which the Lord hath reserved in Heaven for such as here do sincerely serve him, and obey the Gospel of Iesus Christ. Oh think with thy self what a blessed thing it will be, to live in the vision and fruition of God himself: in whose presence there is fullness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore. As also what an happiness it will be to behold the glorious body of Iesus Christ, shining there with such incomprehensible beauty, as shall infinitely delight the eyes of the beholders, and that to all Eternity, without satiety: for the longer the Saints behold Christ, the more they will be ravished with joy and delight. Ponder likewise as on the excellent qualities wherewith thy soul and body shall be adorned in Heaven, so on the excellency of that place, which is set forth in Scripture by Pearls and precious stones.
And the more to set off this glory and blessedness, oft consider with thy self the deplorable state of the damned in hell, who feel nothing for the present but wrath and vengeance: and can expect nothing for the future but the fuller Vials of Gods indignation to be powred on them to all Eternity.
Such considerations as these will serve as notable helps to draw and keep thine heart Heaven-ward, and to turn all the streams of thy desires and longings towards the God of glory. But oh how many Christians are there who having an hope towards God, and some confidence of their interest in things above, do notwithstanding converse but very little with them? Their thoughts are seldome on Heaven or Heavenly things; that notwithstanding all their confidence, they may well question whether their treasure be there.
Consider, Reader, As before the Lord, whether this be not thine own case. Thou canst not be ignorant that an heart estranged from Heaven, hath little evidence that he hath any part or place therein. And wilt thou yet perswade thy self that God is thine, when thou carest no more for him? Dost thou highly prize an Heavenly mind, and account them the best and the happiest Christians, that are much in Heaven? and yet is it not grievous to thee to find that thou didst never in all thy life, it may be, or but very seldome fix thy thoughts thereon for a quarter of an hour together? but hast many and many a time suffered the Devil to run away with thy thoughts, and to detain them on this dunghill below.
Certainly it were better the Devil had power to duplicate page duplicate page run away with thine estate, than with thy thoughts, and to order their motions at his pleasure. Oh the multitude of Worldly and covetous thoughts! of wanton and unclean thoughts! of proud and ambitious thoughts! of wicked and prophane thoughts! yea of blaspheamous, and atheistical thoughts that lodge in the hearts of most of us, and there Revel it day and night! Oh the speculative filthiness, and contemplative uncleanness that not only harbours, but likewise find hearty wellcome and entertainment there!
Surely friend thou hadst best look to thy self, and get thy heart cleared of these evill guests, thy vile and vain thoughts: drive away these birds of prey, and then the thoughts of God will be more familiar and precious to thee. That thou maist get up to this Heavenly-mindedness; take these directions.
1. Humble thy self unfeignedly for thy great strangeness to God, and Heaven, that thou hast so rarely set thine heart on things above. And for the time to come let it be thy special care and endeavour to habituate thy self to Spiritual, and Heavenly Meditations, frequently to steep thy soul in Heavens delights.
2. When thou findest thy mind and thoughts to be ridden, by the Devil, and carryed away from God, lift up thine heart by earnest and fervent prayer unto him, who is the Father of Spirits, and hath power over Devils; and begg of him, that as by his permission he hath suffered the unclean Spirit to enter into thee: so he would command him speedily to depart from thee, that thy mind might be free for its proper work. For he only can cast down imaginations, 2 Cor. 10.5.and every thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
3. Work thy heart to a perfect detestation of all vain and wicked thoughts, that thou maist be able to say with David, Psal. 119.113.I hate vain thoughts. This will highten thy resolutions to a greater watchfulness against them for the time to come, and to use thine utmost endeavour to drive them away, so that though they may arise in thine heart; yet they may not lodge there. And know this for thy comfort, that those vain and wicked thoughts, which thou dost from thine heart hate and detest, shall not be laid to thy charge, at the great day of account.
4. Above all things keep a watch over thine heart; according to that counsel of the Wise man,Prov. 4.23. Keep thine heart with all diligence. As if he had said, Above all keeping keep thine heart: which is like a City lyable every moment both to outward assaults and inward commotions. Not only Satan thine arch-enemy is ever watchfull for an opportunity to cast thereinto his fiery darts, and sensual objects: but there are also many rebellious stirrings within, which spring from the fountain of original corruption, over which thou must especially watch; and dismiss them with loathing and detestation. If vain and wanton thoughts be not st…fled in the conception, what monstrous wickedness may they not bring forth? How great a fire may these little sparks kindle?
5. … thy heart and affections more and more from worldly, cares and pleasures, which clog the soul that it cannot mount aloft. As a Bird whose wings are Limed, is not able to take her flight on high. So the man whose heart is intangled with the cares of this life and the pleasures of sin, will not be able to get above ground: the wings of holy meditation will not raise it on high. Yea such a carnal and earthly mind is altogether unfit for Heavenly meditation, and very backward and unwilling to it. What better reason can be given why many think so little of God, his Word and Works, or of any good thing, but because their hearts are so full of the World, and their affections set so much upon the same: where their treasure is, there will their hearts also be.
6. Be often lifting up thine heart to Heaven in some spiritual ejaculations, especially in the morning. Such as find themselves subject to wind in their stomachs through emptiness, use before they go forth, to take a mornings draught. And as great need is there for such as are subject to vain, wanton, worldly thoughts, every morning to prepossess their hearts with the thoughts of God, of his glorious Majesty, his omnipresence, and omniscience, his purity, justice, and the like. And not only mornings, but throughout the day when ever thou findest vain or wicked thoughts to arise at any time within thee, meet them presently with a Prayer; lift up thine heart in some short ejaculatory request unto God, for power and strength to keep down and suppress the same.
7. Labour to spiritualize every outward occurrence by raising Heavenly meditations from the same. There is not any creature thou beholdest, or any thing that befalls thee, but thou maist make some spiritual use, and improvement thereof. As the Bee sucks honey out of every flower; so maist thou extract spiritual and holy thoughts from every thing thou seest, and beholdest: yea from all occurrences and emergencies; which will be a special means to prevent the Devil and Lust, and to keep out those vanities and wickednesses which otherwise would fill thine head and heart withall.
8. Labour to get thine heart furnished with the knowledge of God and his word, which will take up thine heart with better things, and leave no room for these unclean birds. As the emptiness of the stomach maketh it subject to windiness; so it is the emptiness of our hearts that makes them so full of vain, foolish thoughts.Mat. 12.35. A good man, saith our Saviour, out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things. A good man having his heart furnished with a treasure of many precious truths, bringeth forth good thoughts, as well as good things. When thou art walking or riding alone, call to mind some spiritual subject or favoury truth whereon to meditate: bring forth out of thy treasury, and let thine heart be continually working upon those good things thou hast there laid up.
9. So often as thou goest unto God in Prayer, let one petition be for mortifying grace, to conquer those sinfull Lusts and vile affections, which are apt to steam up into thine head with answerable thoughts; and that he would make thee more heavenly minded, by working in thine heart better affections. Nothing but the power of God can cure us of the vanity of our thoughts, and make them such as may be acceptable unto him.
In regard that the best of Gods people do find a great backwardness, and untowardness in themselves to the performance of this Heavenly duty: I shall give you some Motives thereunto, which if seriously weighed, may through Gods blessing prove effectual to perswade you to be more spiritually minded.
I. May be taken from the possibility of the work. Indeed the work is somewhat difficult, yet is it possible; it's that you have power to do. Though you have not that command of your affections, you cannot love what you will, or hate what you will, or grieve when you will; yet can you not think of what you will? And by how much more able you are to it, by so much the greater your sin is, if you neglect it.
II. Consider the necessity of this duty. The mind of man being active, if it be not exercised on spiritual, and holy things, it will be on things earthly and carnal. The truth is, whosoever doth not accustome himself to fix his thoughts on God, or his Word, or some spiritual subject, will be sure to find them taken up with things of less concernment, yea of dangerous and sad consequence; from which they will reap nothing but corruption, and defilement. By how much our minds stray from God, and pitch upon other things, the more will they grow into the form of the Devil.Jer. 2.…. They are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain.
III. Consider the manifold benefits which usually follow thereupon.
1. God will be sure to mind them, who mind him. Then they that feared the Lord, Mal. 3.16.spake often one to another, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and thought on his name. Not a thought of God but it is registred in his book of remembrance. The more we look up unto God, the more he will look down upon us for our good. When thoughts of God are stirring in us, God himself is not far off, he will come and enter. Oh how happy are those souls in whom God comes, and takes up his habitation!
2. A clearer apprehension of divine truths. Though we hear often, and read much, yet if we digest not those truths we meet with, by meditation, we shall still continue in the dark. Our knowledge at the best will be but weak, and inefficacious. Whereas by a frequent thinking of those truths which we hear or read, we shall have a clearer apprehension of them, and they will be concocted into better nourishment.
3. An Heavenly conversation. The mind being the fountain of actions, such as the mind is, such is the life, and conversation. If the mind be holy and Heavenly, such will the life be. But if the mind be carnal, and unclean, the conversation will be thereafter. Wouldst thou have an Heavenly conversation? then must thou be Heavenly minded. Thoughts are the seed and conception of all our actions, and such as the seed is, such will be the fruit. As evil thoughts bring forth evil actions, so Heavenly thoughts bring forth an Heavenly conversation.
4. Readiness to discourse on divine mysteries. As they who have layed up much riches, have sufficient by them, to bring forth on all occasions: so such as by frequent meditation have treasured up many precious truths, have sufficient by them to produce, for the benefit of those they converse withall. Whereas others who have spent much time in reading, and hearing, and have not by meditation made it their own, we see how barren they are.Psal. 77.12. I will meditate, saith David, of all thy works, and talk of thy doings. It is there observable, how good conference follows upon holy meditation.
5. Cheerfulness of Spirit. To be much in Heaven by a frequent contemplation of things above, will exceedingly cheer up our Spirits, and make us walk comfortably. For the proof hereof I dare appeal to the experience of any Heavenly-minded Christian. When is it that your hearts are most cheerfull? but when you have been walking with God, and beholding his face, and looking to those things that are within the vail. Certainly this will leave such a savour upon the heart of a Christian, that he cannot but confess, that one hour thus spent, doth afford more true real joy and sweetness, than all the riches and pleasures in the World.
Hereupon David cryed out,Psal. 139.17. How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! As if he had said, How delightful and comfortable are the thoughts that I have of thee! yea saith he, when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches, my soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. And who is there that hath seriously experimented this divine exercise, who doth not find abundance of sweetness and comfort in it? Certainly no comfort, no joy is to be compared with it.
No marvail then that many Christians walk so uncomfortably, when they live at such a distance from Heaven. Where is joy? where is comfort? but in Heaven? Who are like to taste of these Heavenly comforts, but those who go often thither? Strangers shall not meddle with this joy. How can Heaven be matter of joy to them who are never there? nor consider the glorious things, which God hath there prepared for those who love him?
6. Another benefit of divine contemplation, is a profitable improvement of time. For thereby all the chinks, and crevices of our time will be filled up. There need be no vacuity, when we have work that is so proper for every season; yea and that will whet and quicken us, to what ever other work God hath for us to do. The most contemplative Christians are the most active. Our holy thoughts will set us upon our holy work; the thoughtless are usually the most fruitless of men.
7. Victory over our lusts and corruptions, is another benefit of divine contemplation. It is recorded of Noah, that though he lived in wicked and corrupt times, yet he was a just and upright man. Gen. 6.9.The reason thereof is rendred in the next words, He walked with God, continually eying him, and meditating of him. By his frequent conversing with God, he kept himself from the iniquities of the times, as well as from the corruptions of his own heart. And certainly there is no better preservative against sin, than to have our minds and thoughts thus holily imployed about spiritual things. For,
1. By looking into our selves, and considering our own hearts and wayes, we discern the evils that are there: we see such Worldliness and Covetousness in our hearts, the very sight whereof will make us look the better to our selves.
2. By spiritual meditation we come to have such an insight into the evil of sin, the vanity of the Creature, the folly of fleshly sensual delights: that temptations unto sin will have the less power over us.
3. Divine contemplation is a preservative against sin, because it keeps the heart imployed. When the heart is taken up with better things, it hath no leisure to hearken to temptations; no leisure to be lustfull and wanton;Quem diabolus inve…it inoccupatum ipse …ccupat. to be Worldly or ambitious. When we are idle and empty of God, we are sure to be pestred with evil thoughts: whilest we are well employed, we are safe. When the vessel is full, you can put in no more. And when the heart is filled with Heaven, there is no room for Earth and vanity. What's the reason most mens hearts are so full of wicked wanton thoughts? but because God is not in all their thoughts.
4. Divine contemplation is a good preservative against sin, in that our understandings are thereby cleared, to judge rightly of our sinfull lusts, and pleasures. When a Christian hath been seriously musing either on those everlasting joys, which are prepared for the Godly in Heaven: or on those everlasting torments, which are prepared for the wicked in hell, what then are his apprehensions of his lusts and iniquities? Oh how doth he befool himself for them, when he sees what he is like to lose and suffer by them! How could he even tear his very flesh, and take revenge on himself, for his earthly mindedness, and fleshly pleasures! for his mis-spent time, that he hath so prodigally lavished, and wofully wasted his golden and precious time, in vanity, and pleasure, in sin and wickedness! How verily doth he think there is no man in Bedlam so truly mad, as they, who for the short fruition of a momentary pleasure, and delight here, do plunge themselves into everlasting burnings in hell, where is nothing but weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth!