"Cleave to that which is good." --- Romans 12:9.
"Seek those things which are above." --- Colossians 3:1.
The manner of such things or persons as we frequently converse with cleave very easily to us. If we converse much with God and heavenly things, we shall be heavenly-minded: but if we deal much with the world and temporal things we must be sensual and earthly-minded. Up, therefore, with thy heart to God; lift it hourly up to him; and though it sinks down often to the earth again, yet the Lord has patience, and will as often receive it again. Therefore raise it up continually, and take great care to keep it above, that it may not sink down and be defiled by earthly things again.
Thus it will be easy to abide in a spiritual frame; but without this care we cannot abide in it at all: a feather easily rises higher and higher when kept above the ground; but it moves very heavily upwards when once fallen into the dirt. This you may take as a lively figure of an easy and heavy method in the practice of religion. Choose now which you please. Oh that I may always choose the best, namely to cleave unto the Lord, seeking the things which are above, and never plunge into the world to defile and distress my soul.
Descend from heaven, Immortal Dove,
Stoop down, and take us on thy wings:
And mount, and bear us far above
The reach of these inferior things.
Beyond, beyond this lower sky,
Up where eternal ages roll;
Where solid pleasures never die,
And fruits immortal feast the soul.