Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man wherein the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul are opened, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved, the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applyed, divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined, the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered, and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed / by John Flavel ...

Inference VI.

HOw Heavenly should the tempers and frawles of those Souls be who are Candidates for Heaven, and must be so shortly num∣bred with the Spirits of just men made perfect!

'Tis reasonable that we all begin to be, that which we ex∣pect to be for ever. To learn that way of living and con∣versing which we believe must be our everlasting life and bu∣siness in the World to come. Let them that hope to live with Angels in Heaven, learn to live like Angels on Earth, in Holiness, Activity, and ready obedience.

There is the greatest reason that our minds be there where our Souls are to be for ever. A spiritual mind will be found possible, congruous, sweet, and evidential of our interest in that glory, to all those holy Souls who are preparing, and designed for it.

First, it is possible, notwithstanding the clogs and entangle∣ments of the Body, to be heavenly minded. Others have at∣tained it, Philip. 3.20. Two things make an heavenly con∣versation possible to men, viz.

• 1. The natural abilities of the Mind.
• 2. The gracious principles of the Mind.

1. The natural abilities of the mind which can in a minutes time dispatch a nimble messenger to Heaven, and mount its thoughts from this to that World in a trice. The power of cogitation is a rich endowment of the Soul, such as no o∣ther creature on earth is participant of. Though spiritual thoughts be not the natural growth of the Soul, yet thoughts capable of being spiritualized are. And without this ability of projecting thoughts, all intercourse must have been cut off.

2. The gracious principles implanted in the Soul do actually incline the mind, and mount its thoughts heaven∣ward. Yea, this will prove more than a possibility of a conversation in Heaven; whilst Saints tabernacle on earth in Bodies of flesh, it will almost prove an impossibility that it should be otherwise. For these spiritual principles setting the bent and tendency of the heart heaven-ward, we must act against the very law of our new Nature when we place our affections elsewhere.

Secondly, A mind in heaven is most congruous, decorous, and comely for those that are the enrolled inhabitants of that heavenly City. Where should a Christians love be, but where his Lord is? Our hearts and our homes do not use to be long asunder. It becomes you so to think and so to speak now, as those who make account to be shortly sing∣ing Allelujahs before the throne.

Thirdly, 'Tis most sweet and delightful: no pleasure in all this World comparable to this pleasure, Rom. 8.6. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. 'Tis a young Heaven born in the Soul, in its way thither.

Fourthly, To conclude. It is evidential of your interest in it: an agreable frame is the surest title, Col. 3.1, 2. Matth 6.21. If Heaven attract your minds now, it will centre them for ever.