A53719:100
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded
Phronemma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...Phronēma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...
London: printed by J.G. for Nathaniel Ponder, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Wherefore the Enquiry remains, How we may know unto our own satisfaction, that the Thoughts we have of Spiritual ⟨p. 37⟩things in the Duty of Prayer, are from Internal fountain of Grace, and so are an evidence that we are Spiritually minded, whereunto all these things do tend. Some few things I shall offer towards Satisfaction herein.
1. I take it for granted on the Evidence before given, that Persons who have any Spiritual Light, and will diligently Examine and Try their own Hearts, will be able to discern what real Actings of Faith, of Love, and Delight in God, there are in their Duties; and consequently what is the Spring of their Spiritual Thoughts. In general we are assured, that he that believeth, hath the Witness in himself. 1 Joh. 5.10. Sincere Faith will be its own Evidence. And where there are Sincere Actings of Faith, they will evidence themselves, if we try all things impartially by the Word. But if men do, as for the most part they do, content themselves with the Performance of any Duty, without an Examination of their Principles, Frames and Actings of Grace in them, it is no wonder if they walk in all Uncertainty.
2. When the Soul finds a sweet Spiritual Complacency in and after its Duties, it is an Evidence that Grace hath been acted in its Spiritual Thoughts and Desires. Jer. 31. The Prophet receiveth a long gracious Message from God, filled up with Excellent Promises and Pathetical Exhortations unto the Church. The whole is as it were summed up in the close of it. Ver. 25. For I have satiated the weary Soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful Soul. Whereon the Prophet adds, Upon this I awaked, and beheld, and my Sleep was sweet unto me. God's gracious Message had so composed his spirits, and freed his mind from Trouble, as that he was at quiet Repose in himself, like a man asleep. But after the end of it, he stirs up himself unto a Review and Consideration of what had been spoken unto him: I awaked and beheld, or I stirred up my self, and considered what had