The afflicted and retired mans meditations, concerning the excellency of the spirit With a discovery of the twofold-mind; the danger of the one, the comfort and safety of the other. First, here is observed, what it is for to be carnally minded. Secondly, means to suppress a carnal frame of spirit. Thirdly, the dreadful state of a carnal minded man. Fourthly, how the spirit is a Christians help. Fifthly, means to obtain the spirit. Sixthly, the characters of a spiritualized Christian. Seventhly, the glorious priviledges of a spiritual minded man. And a few meditations by way of observation: with a dialogue between Christ and a sinner; Christ and a Christian; Christ and the afflicted person: as also, a word to the remnant of the womans seed: with a loud call to all saints, to love one another upon the account of son-ship, and not onely upon the account of fellowship. Written by Samuel Bradley, who hath love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, who prayes for Zions unity.

The third Means to prevent a Carnal Frame of Heart.

Thi••••ly, The third Means by which we may prevent a Carnal Frame of Heart, is, For to fix our eyes upon Spiritual Objects.

Oftentimes it is, that the eye affects the Heart; something we may conclude was in the way, that made Job enter into a League or Covenant with his eye; often it is so, and by experi∣ence we find, that if the eye be affected with Spiritual Objects, the heart is engaged to those things that are truly Spiritual and Honourable; As for Example, When once the Spouse had got a true sight of Christ, She holds him fast and upon no terms will part with him; A true sight of Christ, doth produce Spiri∣tual desires in the Soul after Christ, that incomparable Object, that you may see is evident by what she doth express, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his Mouth; the Reason is at hand, for his Love is better than Wine. A sight of the Excellency of Christ indears her heart much to him, and nothing short of Christ her dear Love, will give her content; that makes her to cry out, Oh my Dove, whose dwelling is in secret, let me see thy Face, and hear thy Voice! her Reason is, for his voice is sweet, and his countenance is comely; Such is her Love to him, that she glories in him. And when she comes to speak of her Beloved, she gives this relation of him, That he is the chiefest of ten

thousand; and if you come to comparisons, there is none to be compared with him among all the Sons of men. Christ is so beau∣tiful to the Soul truly Spiritual, that there is not so much as a spot for to be found about him. Oh! when the Soul comes for to cast up his accounts concerning him, it amounts to this, That Pretious Jesus, the onely Object of its hearts delight, is alto∣gether lovely, full of beauty from head to foot. That we may rightly understand who it is she has such an excellent approba∣tion of, her language is, This is my Beloved, yea this is my Friend. Here is a lively Charactar of a Soul freed from the Carnal Mind, whose Affections are setled, and Heart is seated upon an Object very rare for delights, Whose Honour and Beauty is unparalel'd: And that Soul that doth thus fall in love with Christ, will fall out of love with all things short of Christ, so that this is the onely means to come up unto this Blessed Attain∣ment, to have the mind freed from carnallity, and truly exer∣cised on things that are Spiritual.

Notes

• Job 31.1.
• Cant. 3.4.
• Cant. 1.2.
• Cant. 2.14.
• Cant. 5.10.
• Cant. 4.7.
• Cant. 5.16.
• Cant. 6.1. & 4.