The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

4. When Spiritual Affections and due preparation of heart unto the Duty do excite and animate the Gift of Prayer, and not the Gift make impressions on the Affections, then are ⟨p. 43⟩we Spiritually Minded therein. Gifts are Servants not Rulers in the Mind; are bestowed on us to be serviceable unto Grace, not to lead it, but to follow it, and to be ready with their Assistance on its exercise. For the most part where they lead all, they are all alone. This is the natural order of these things. Grace habitually inclineth and disposeth the heart unto this Duty. Providence and Rule gives the occasions for its exercise; Sense of Duty calls for preparation. Grace coming into actual exercise, Gifts come in with their Assistance. If they lead all, all is out of order. It may be otherwise sometimes. A Person indisposed and lifeless, engaging into Prayer in a way of Obedience, upon conviction of Duty, may in and by the Gift have his Affections excited, and Graces engaged unto its proper Work. It may be so, I say; but let men take heed how they trust unto this Order and Method. For where it is so, there may be little or nothing of the Exercise of true Grace in all their fervour and Commotion of Affections. But when the genuine Actings of Faith, Love, holy Reverence and gracious Desires, do stir up the Gift unto its Exercise, calling in its assistance unto the expression of themselves; then are the Heart and Mind in their proper Order.

4. When Spiritual Affections and due preparation of heart unto the Duty do excite and animate the Gift of Prayer, and not the Gift make impressions on the Affections, then are ⟨p. 43⟩we Spiritually Minded therein. Gifts are Servants not Rulers in the Mind; are bestowed on us to be serviceable unto Grace, not to lead it, but to follow it, and to be ready with their Assistance on its exercise. For the most part where they lead all, they are all alone. This is the natural order of these things. Grace habitually inclineth and disposeth the heart unto this Duty. Providence and Rule gives the occasions for its excercise; Sence of Duty calls for preparation. Grace coming into actual exercise, Gifts come in with their Assistance. If they lead all, all is out of order. It may be otherwise sometimes. A Person indispos'd and lifeless, ingaging into Prayer in a way of Obedience, upon conviction of Duty, may in and by the Gift have his Affections excited, and Graces engaged unto its proper Work. It may be so, I say; but let men take heed how they trust unto this Order and Method. For where it is so, there may be little or nothing of the Exercise of true Grace in all their fervour and Commotion of Affections. But when the genuine Actings of Faith, Love, holy Reverence and gracious Desires, do stir up the Gift unto its Exercise, calling in its assistance unto the expression of themselves; then are the Heart and Mind in their proper Order.