The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

If any therefore shall say, that they would abound more in Spiritual Thoughts, only they know not what to fix them upon; I propose this in the first place, as that which will lead them unto the due performance of present Duties.

Secondly, The special Trials and Temptations of men, call for the Exercise of their Thoughts in a peculiar manner with respect unto them. If a man hath a bodily Disease, Pain or Distemper, it will cause him to ⟨p. 67⟩think much of it whether he will or no; at least if he be wise he will so do; nor will he always be complaining of their smart, but enquire into their causes and seek their removal. Yet are there some distempers, as Lethargies, which in their own Nature take away all sense and thoughts of themselves; and some are of such a slow secret Progress, as Hectic Fevers, that they are not taken notice of. But both these are mortal. And shall men be more negligent about the Spiritual Distempers of their Souls; so as to have multiplied Temptations, the cause of all Spiritual Diseases, and take no Thought about them? Is it not to be feared, that where it is so, they are such as either in their own Nature have deprived them of Spiritual sense, or by their deceitfulness are leading on insensibly unto death Eternal? Not to have our minds exercised about these things, is to be stupidly secure, Prov. 23.34, 35.

Secondly, The special Trials and Temptations of men, call for the Exercise of their Thoughts in a peculiar manner with respect unto them. If a man hath a bodily Disease, Pain or Distemper, it will cause him to ⟨p. 67⟩think much of it whether he will or no; at least if he be wise he will so do; nor will he always be complaining of their smart, but enquire into their causes and seek their removal. Yet are there some distempers, as Lethargies, which in their own Nature take away all sence and thoughts of themselves; and some are of such a slow secret Progress, as Hectick Feavers, that they are not taken notice of. But both these are mortal. And shall men be more negligent about the Spiritual Distempers of their Souls; so as to have multiplied Temptations, the cause of all Spiritual Diseases, and take no Thought about them? Is it not to be fear'd, that where it is so, they are such as either in their own Nature have deprived them of Spiritual sence, or by their deceitfulness are leading on insensibly unto death Eternal? Not to have our minds exercised about these things, is to be stupidly secure,