A53719:265
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded
Phronemma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...Phronēma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...
London: printed by J.G. for Nathaniel Ponder, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The Contempt of Gospel Light and Christian Religion, as it is supernatural, (which is the Beginning of Transgression unto all Atheists among us,) begets in, and leaves on the mind such a depraved, corrupt habit, such a Congeries of all Evils, that the Hatred of the Goodness, Wisdom and Grace of God can produce; that it cannot but be wholly inclined unto the worst of Evils, as all our Original vicious Inclinations succeeded immediately on our rejection and loss of the Image of God. The best things corrupted, yield the worst Savour; as Manna stank and bred worms. The Knowledge of the Gospel being rejected, stinking Worms take the place of it in the Mind, which grow into Vipers and Scorpions. Every Degree of Apostasy from Gospel-Truth, brings in a proportionate Degree of inclination unto wickedness into the Hearts and Minds of men, 2 Pet. 2.21. And that which is total, unto all the evils that they are capable of in this world. Whereas therefore Multitudes from their Darkness, Unbelief, Temptation, Love of Sin, Pride and contempt of God, do fall off from all subjection of Soul and Conscience unto the Gospel, either notionally or practically, deriding or despising all supernatural Revelations; they are a thousand times more disposed unto down-right Atheism, than Persons who never had the Light or Benefit of such Revelations. Take ⟨p. 130⟩heed of Decays. Whatever Ground the Gospel loseth in our Minds, Sin possesseth it for it self and its own Ends.
2. The Contempt of Gospel Light and Christian Religion, as it is supernatural, (which is the Beginning of Transgression unto all Atheists among us,) begets in, and leaves on the mind such a depraved, corrupt habit, such a Congeries of all Evils, that the Hatred of the Goodness, Wisdom and Grace of God can produce; that it cannot but be wholly inclined unto the worst of Evils, as all our Original vitious Inclinations succeeded immediately on our rejection and loss of the Image of God. The best things corrupted, yeild the worst Savour; as Manna stank and bred worms. The Knowledge of the Gospel being rejected, stinking Worms take the place of it in the Mind, which grow into Vipers and Scorpions. Every Degree of Apostacy from Gospel-Truth, brings in a proportionate Degree of inclination unto wickedness into the Hearts and Minds of men,