The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

1. It is no great matter whether we are able to distinguish between them or no. For the End why God suffers any corruption to be such a Snare and Temptation, such a Thorn and Briar, is to awaken the Souls of men out of their security, and to humble them for their pride and negligence. The more severe are their apprehensions concerning it, the more effectual it will be unto this end and purpose. It is Good it may be that the Soul should apprehend more of what is sinful in it, as it is a corruption, than of what is afflictive in it as it is a Temptation. For if it be conceived as a predominant Lust, if there be any spark of Grace remaining in the Soul, it will not rest until in some measure it be subdued. It will also immediately put it upon a diligent search into it self, which will issue in deep self-abasement, the principal End designed. But,

1. It is no great matter whether we are able to distinguish between them or no. For the End why God suffers any corruption to be such a Snare and Temptation, such a Thorn and Bryar, is to awaken the Souls of men out of their security, and to humble them for their pride and negligence. The more severe are their apprehensions concerning it, the more effectual it will be unto this end and purpose. It is Good it may be that the Soul should apprehend more of what is sinful in it, as it is a corruption, than of what is afflictive in it as it is a Temptation. For if it be conceived as a predominant Lust, if there be any spark of Grace remaining in the Soul, it will not rest untill in some measure it be subdued. It will also immediately put it upon a diligent search into it self, which will issue in deep self-abasement, the principal End designed. But,

2. For the Relief of them that may be perplexed in their Minds, about their state and condition, I say, there is an apparent Difference between these things. A Lust or Corruption arising up or breaking forth into a violent Temptation, is the continual Burden, Grief, and Affliction of the Soul wherein it is. And as the Temptation for the most part which befalls such a Person will give him no rest from its reiterated solicitations; so he will give the Temptation no Rest, but will be continually conflicting with it, and contending against it. It fills the Souls with an Amazement at it self, and continual self-abhorrency, that any such seeds of filth and folly should be yet remaining in it. With them in whom any sin is ordinarily prevalent, it is otherwise. According to their Light and renewed occasional convictions, they have trouble about it, they cannot but have so, unless their Consciences are utterly seared. But this Trouble respects principally, if not solely, its Guilt and Effects. They know not what may ensue on their compliance with it, in this world and another. Beyond