The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

2. Others are sensible of the evil of their hearts, at least are jealous and afraid lest it should be found that their hearts do cleave inordinately unto these things. Hence they endeavour to contend against this evil, sometimes by forcing themselves unto such Acts of Piety or Charity as are contrary unto that frame, and sometimes by labouring a change of the frame it self: Especially they will do so when God is pleased to awaken them by Trials and Afflictions, such as write Vanity and Emptiness on all earthly enjoyments. But for the most part they strive not lawfully, and so obtain not what they seem to aim at.

This Disease with many is mortal; and will not be throughly cured in any but by the due exercise of this part of Spiritual-mindedness. There are other Duties required also unto the same end, namely, of the Mortification of our Desires and Affections unto earthly things, whereof I have treated elsewhere. But without this or a fixed contemplation on the Desirableness, Beauty and Glory of Heavenly things, it will not be attained. Further to evince the Truth hereof, we may observe these two things. First, If by any means a man do seem to have taken off his Heart from the Love of present things, and be not at the same time taken up with the Love of things that are Heavenly, his seeming Mortification is of no advantage unto him. So persons frequently through Discontent, Disappointments or dissatisfaction with Relations, or mere natural Weariness, have left the world, the Affairs and cares of it, as unto their wonted conversations in it, and have betaken themselves to Monasteries, Convents, or other Retirements suiting their Principles, without any Advantage to their Souls. Secondly, God is no such severe Lord and Master, as to ⟨p. 92⟩require us to take off our Affections from, and mortify them unto those things which the Law of our Nature makes dear unto us, as Wives, Children, Houses, Lands and Possessions, and not propose unto us somewhat that is incomparably more excellent to fix them upon. So he invites the Elect of the Gentiles unto Christ, Psal. 45.10