The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

But this season calls in an especial manner for the exercise of the Thoughts of men, about the ways and means of Deliverance from the snare wherein they are taken, or the danger they find themselves exposed unto. Think of the Guilt of sin, that you may be humbled. Think of the Power of sin, that you may seek strength against it. Think not of the Matter of sin, the things that are in the World suited unto the Lusts of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, lest you be more and more entangled. But the present Direction is, think much of the ways of Relief from the power of your own Temptation, leading unto sin. But this, men unless they ⟨p. 70⟩are spiritually minded, are very loth to come unto. I speak not of them that love their Shackles, that glory in their Yoke, that like their Temptations well enough, as those which give the most satisfactory entertainment unto their minds. Such men know not well what to do, unless they may in their Minds converse with the Objects of their Lusts, and do multiply Thoughts about them continually. The Apostle calls it making Provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts thereof. Their Principal trouble is, that they cannot comply with them to the utmost by reason of some outward restraints. These dwell near unto those Fools who make a mock of sin, and will ere long take up their Habitation among them.

But this season calls in an especial manner for the exercise of the Thoughts of men, about the wayes and means of Deliverance from the snare wherein they are taken, or the danger they find themselves exposed unto. Think of the Guilt of sin, that you may be humbled. Think of the Power of sin, that you may seek strength against it. Think not of the Matter of sin, the things that are in the World suited unto the Lusts of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, lest you be more and more entangled. But the present Direction is, think much of the wayes of Relief from the power of your own Temptation, leading unto sin. But this, men unless they ⟨p. 70⟩are spiritually minded, are very loth to come unto. I speak not of them that love their Shackles, that glory in their Yoak, that like their Temptations well enough, as those which give the most satisfactory entertainment unto their minds. Such men know not well what to do, unless they may in their Minds converse with the Objects of their Lusts, and do multiply Thoughts about them continually. The Apostle calls it making Provision for the Flesh, to fulfill the Lusts thereof. Their Principal trouble is, that they cannot comply with them to the utmost by reason of some outward restraints. These dwell near unto those Fools who make a mock of sin, and will e're long take up their Habitation among them.