Suppose various persons engaged in a voyage to a most remote country, in which all of them apprehend they will have a place of rest, and an inheritance provided for them. Under this apprehension they all set upon their voyage, to possess what is so prepared. However, some of them have only a general notion of these things; they know nothing specific concerning them, and they are so busy about other affairs, that they have no leisure to inquire into these things; nor do they suppose they can come to any satisfactory knowledge of them in particular, and so they are content to go on with general hopes and expectations. There are others who by all possible means acquaint themselves particularly with the nature of the climate where they are going, with the excellency of the inheritance and the provision that is made for them. Their voyage proves long and wearisome, their difficulties many, and their dangers great, and they have nothing to relieve and encourage themselves with but the hope and expectation of the country where they are going. Those of the first sort will be apt to despond and faint; their general hopes will not be able to relieve them. But those who have a distinct notion and apprehension of the state of things where they are going, and of their incomparable excellency, always have something ready with which to cheer their minds and support themselves.
In that journey or pilgrimage in which we are engaged towards a heavenly country, we are sure to meet with all kinds of dangers, difficulties, and perils. It is not a general notion of blessedness that will excite and work a spiritual, refreshing hope in us. But when we think and meditate on future glory as we should, that grace which is neglected for the most part as to its benefit, and dead as to its exercise, will of all others be most vigorous and active, displaying itself on all occasions. Therefore, for those who are really spiritually minded, this is an inestimable benefit of the duty they are exhorted to, and which they find the advantage of.
John Owen. THE GRACE AND DUTY OF BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED.
