The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Pray therefore that you may be kept unto the Truth in all things by a diligent Attendance unto the only Rule thereof, and conscientious subjection of Soul unto the Authority of God in it. For we ought not to suffer our Affections to be entangled with the paint or Artificial Beauty of any way or means of giving our Love unto Christ, which are not warranted by the Word of Truth. Yet I must say, that I had rather be among them who in the actings of their Love and Affections unto Christ do fall into some irregularities and excesses in the manner of expressing it (provided their Worship of him be neither Superstitious nor Idolatrous) than among those who professing themselves to be Christians, do almost disavow their having any Thoughts of or Affection unto the Person of Christ: But there is no need that we should foolishly run into either of these extremes. God hath ⟨p. 118⟩in the Scripture sufficiently provided against them both. He hath both showed us the Necessity of our diligent acting of Faith and Love on the Person of Christ; and hath limited out the way and means whereby we may so do; And let our Designs be what they will, where in any thing we depart from his Prescriptions, we are not under the conduct of his Spirit, and so are sure to lose all that we do.

Pray therefore that you may be kept unto the Truth in all things by a diligent Attendance unto the only Rule thereof, and conscientious subjection of Soul unto the Authority of God in it. For we ought not to suffer our Affections to be entangled with the paint or Artificial Beauty of any way or means of giving our Love unto Christ, which are not warranted by the Word of Truth. Yet I must say, that I had rather be among them who in the actings of their Love and Affections unto Christ do fall into some irregularities and excesses in the manner of expressing it (provided their Worship of him be neither Superstitious nor Idolatrous) than among those who professing themselves to be Christians, do almost disavow their having any Thoughts of or Affection unto the Person of Christ: But there is no need that we should foolishly run into either of these extreams. God hath ⟨p. 118⟩in the Scripture sufficiently provided against them both. He hath both shewed us the Necessity of our diligent acting of Faith and Love on the Person of Christ; and hath limited out the way and means whereby we may so do; And let our Designs be what they will, where in any thing we depart from his Prescriptions, we are not under the conduct of his Spirit, and so are sure to lose all that we do.