The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

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 ⟨p. 138⟩this they like it well enough, and are not willing to part with it. It is of this latter sort of Persons of whom we speak at present.

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 Burthen, 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 complyance with it, in this world and another. Beyond ⟨p. 138⟩this they like it well enough, and are not willing to part with it. It is of this latter sort of Persons of whom we speak at present.