The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

1. Some do not at all understand that things are amiss with them, or that they are much to be blamed. They plead as was before observed, that they are all lawful things which their hearts do cleave unto, and which it is their Duty to take care of and regard. May they not delight in their own Relations, especially at such a time when others break and cancel all Duties and bonds of Relation in the service of and provision they make for their Lusts? May they not be careful in good and honest ways of diligence about the things of the world, when the most either lavish their time away in the pursuit of bestial Lusts, or heap them up by deceit and Oppression? May they not contrive for the promotion of their children in the world, to add the other hundred or thousand pounds unto their Advancement, that they may be in as good condition as others, seeing he is worse than an Infidel who provides not for his own family? By such reasonings and secret Thoughts do many justify themselves in their earthly mindedness. And so fixed they are in the Approbation of themselves, that if you urge them to their Duty, you shall loose their acquaintance, if they do not become your Enemies for telling them the Truth. Yea they will avoid one Duty that lieth not against their earthly Interest, because it leads unto another. They will not engage in Religious Assemblies, or be constant unto their Duty in them, for fear Duties of Charity should be required of them or expected from them: On what Grounds such Persons can satisfy themselves that they are Spiritually-minded, I know not. I shall leave only one Rule with Persons that are thus minded. Where our Love unto the world, hath prevailed by its reasonings, ⟨p. 91⟩pleas and pretences, to take away our fear and jealousy over our own hearts, lest we should inordinately love it, there it is assuredly predominant in us.

1. Some do not at all understand that things are amiss with them, or that they are much to be blamed. They plead as was before observed, that they are all lawful things which their hearts do cleave unto, and which it is their Duty to take care of and regard. May they not delight in their own Relations, especially at such a time when others break and cancel all Duties and bonds of Relation in the service of and provision they make for their Lusts? May they not be careful in good and honest wayes of diligence about the things of the world, when the most either lavish their time away in the pursuit of bestial Lusts, or heap them up by deceit and Oppression? May they not contrive for the promotion of their children in the world, to adde the other hundred or thousand pounds unto their Advancement, that they may be in as good condition as others, seeing he is worse than an Infidel who provides not for his own family? By such reasonings and secret Thoughts do many justifie themselves in their earthly mindedness. And so fixed they are in the Approbation of themselves, that if you urge them to their Duty, you shall loose their acquaintance, if they do not become your Enemies for telling them the Truth. Yea they will avoid one Duty that lyeth not against their earthly Interest, because it leads unto another. They will not ingage in Religious Assemblies, or be constant unto their Duty in them, for fear Dutyes of Charity should be required of them or expected from them: On what Grounds such Persons can satisfie themselves that they are Spiritually-minded, I know not. I shall leave only one Rule with Persons that are thus minded. Where our Love unto the world, hath prevailed by its reasonings,