The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

But there is that which unto them who are truly Spiritually minded, hath more evil in it than all these things together, and that is sin. Heaven is a state of Deliverance from sin, from all sin, in all the causes, concomitants and effects of it. He is no true Believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow, and trouble. Other things, as the Loss of Dear Relations, or extraordinary pains, may make deeper Impressions on the Mind by its natural Affections at some seasons, than ever our sins did at any one time, in any one Instance. So a man may have a greater Trouble in sense of pain, by a fit of the Tooth-ache, which will be gone in an hour, than in an Hectic Fever or Consumption, which will assuredly take away his Life. But take in the whole course of our Lives, and all the actings of our souls in Spiritual Judgment as well as natural Affection, and I do not understand how a man can be a sincere Believer, unto whom sin is not the greatest Burden and sorrow.

But there is that which unto them who are truely Spiritually minded, hath more evil in it than all these things together, and that is sin. Heaven is a state of Deliverance from sin, from all sin, in all the causes, concomitants and effects of it. He is no true Believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow, and trouble. Other things, as the Loss of Dear Relations, or extraordinary pains, may make deeper Impressions on the Mind by its natural Affections at some seasons, than ever our sins did at any one time, in any one Instance. So a man may have a greater Trouble in sense of pain, by a fit of the Tooth-ache, which will be gone in an hour, than in an Hectick Feavour or Consumption, which will assuredly take away his Life. But take in the whole course of our Lives, and all the actings of our souls in Spiritual Judgment as well as natural Affection, and I do not understand how a man can be a sincere Believer, unto whom sin is not the greatest Burden and sorrow.

Wherefore in the first place it belongs unto the true Notion of Heaven, that it is a State wherein we shall be eternally ⟨p. 99⟩freed from sin, and all the concernments of it, but only the exaltation of the Glory of Gods Grace in Christ, by the pardon of it. He that truly hates sin and abhors it, whose principal Desire and Design of Life is to be freed from it so far as it is possible; who walks in self Abasement through a sense of his many Disappointments, when he hoped it should act in him no more, cannot as I judge but frequently betake himself for Refreshment unto Thoughts of that state wherein he shall be freed from it and triumph over it unto eternity. This is a Notion of Heaven that is easily apprehended and fixed on the Mind, which we may dwell upon, unto the great advantage and satisfaction of our Souls.