The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Frequent Thoughts and Meditations of Heaven under this notion, do argue a man to be Spiritually minded. For it is a convincing Evidence that sin is a Burden unto him, that he longs to be delivered from it and all its consequents; that no Thoughts are more welcome unto him, than those of that state wherein sin shall be no more. And although men are troubled about their sins, and would desirously be freed from them, so far as they perplex their Minds, and make their Consciences uneasy; yet if they are not much in the prospect of this Relief, if they find not Refreshment in it, I fear their trouble is not such as it ought to be. Wherefore, when men can so wrangle and wrestle with their Convictions of sin, and yet take up the best of their Relief in hopes that it will be better with them at some times or other in this world, without longing Desires after that state wherein sin shall be no more, they can give no evidence that they are Spiritually minded.

Frequent Thoughts and Meditations of Heaven under this notion, do argue a man to be Spiritually minded. For it is a convincing Evidence that sin is a Burden unto him, that he longs to be delivered from it and all its consequents; that no Thoughts are more welcome unto him, than those of that state wherein sin shall be no more. And although men are troubled about their sins, and would desirously be freed from them, so far as they perplex their Minds, and make their Consciences uneasie; yet if they are not much in the prospect of this Relief, if they find not Refreshment in it, I fear their trouble is not such as it ought to be. Wherefore, when men can so wrangle and wrestle with their Convictions of sin, and yet take up the best of their Relief in hopes that it will be better with them at some times or other in this world, without longing Desires after that state wherein sin shall be no more, they can give no evidence that they are Spiritually minded.

It is quite otherwise with sincere Believers in the exercise of this Duty. The considerations of the Grace and Love of God, of the Blood of Christ, of the Purity and Holiness of that good Spirit that dwelleth in them, of the Light, Grace and Mercy which they have ⟨p. 100⟩