The Sixth Direction

The sixth direction for contentment is, To labor to be spiritually minded; that is, be often in meditation of the things that are above, If we are risen with Christ (says the Scriptures) let us seek the things that are above, where Christ is that sits at the right hand of God. Be much in spiritual thoughts, in conversing with things above; many Christians that have an interest in the things of Heaven yet converse but very little with them, their meditations are not much upon heavenly things. It is that which some give as the reason why Adam did not see his nakedness, some think that he had so much conversation with God and with things above sense, that he did not so much mind or think of nakedness what it was, but whether that was so or not I will not say, but this I say and am certain of, the reason why we are so troubled with our nakedness with any wants that we have, it is because we converse so little with God, so little with spiritual things, the conversing with spiritual things would lift us above the things of the world. Those that are bitten or stung with a snake, it is because they tread upon the ground, if they could be lifted up above the earth they need never fear to be stung with the snakes that are crawling underneath. So I may compare the sinful distemper of murmuring, and the temptations and evils that come from there to be like snakes that crawl up and down below, but if we could get higher we should not be stung by them. A heavenly conversation is the way for contentment.

The sixth direction for contentment is to labor to be spiritually minded — to spend time meditating on things above. Scripture says: "If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Be much occupied with spiritual thoughts and with the things of heaven. Many Christians who have a genuine interest in heavenly things spend very little time actually thinking about them — their meditations rarely dwell on what is above. Some have suggested that this is why Adam did not feel shame over his nakedness before the fall: he was so engaged with God and with things above the senses that he simply did not focus on it. Whether that is so or not I will not say — but this I can say with certainty: the reason we are so troubled by our lacks and wants is that we converse so little with God and so little with spiritual things. Conversing with spiritual things lifts us above the concerns of this world. People who are bitten by snakes are bitten because they are walking on the ground. If they could be lifted high above the earth, the snakes crawling below would never reach them. Discontent and murmuring, with all the temptations and evils that flow from them, are like snakes crawling at ground level. If we could get higher, we would not be stung by them. A heavenly mind is the path to contentment.