The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

But I speak, as I said before, of them only whose Temptations are their Afflictions, and who groan for Deliverance from them. Acquaint such persons with the great, indeed only way of Relief in this Distress, as it is expressed, Heb. 2.17, 18. He is a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in things appertaining unto God; for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to Succour them that are Tempted. And chap. 4.15, 16. For we have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. Let them know that their only way for their Deliverance is by acting Faith in Thoughts on Christ, his Power to succour them that are tempted, with the ways whereby he administereth a sufficiency of Grace unto that end; retreating for Relief unto him on the urgency of Temptations, they can hardly be brought unto a compliance therewithal. They are ready to say, Are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Damascus better than all the Waters of Israel? Is it not better to betake our selves and to trust unto our own Promises, Resolutions and Endeavours, ⟨p. 71⟩with such other ways of escape, as are in our own power? I shall speak nothing against any of them in their proper place, so far as they are warranted by Scripture Rule. But this I say, none shall ever be delivered from perplexing Temptations unto the glory of God and their own Spiritual Advantage, but by the acting and exercising of Faith on Christ Jesus, and the sufficiency of his Grace for our Deliverance. But when men are not Spiritually minded, they cannot fix their Thoughts on Spiritual things. Therefore do men daily pine away under their Temptations, they get ground upon them, until their Breach grow great like the Sea, and there be no healing of it.

But I speak, as I said before, of them only whose Temptations are their Afflictions, and who groan for Deliverance from them. Acquaint such persons with the great, indeed only way of Relief in this Distress, as it is expressed, Heb. 2.17, 18. He is a Mercifull and Faithfull High Priest in things appertaining unto God; for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to Succour them that are Tempted. And chap. 4.15, 16. For we have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. Let them know that their only way for their Deliverance is by acting Faith in Thoughts on Christ, his Power to succour them that are tempted, with the ways whereby he administreth a sufficiency of Grace unto that end; retreating for Relief unto him on the urgency of Temptations, they can hardly be brought unto a complyance therewithall. They are ready to say, Are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Damascus better than all the Waters of Israel? Is it not better to betake our selves and to trust unto our own Promises, Resolutions and Endeavours,