The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

This shield of Faith managed in the hand of Experience, will quench the fiery darts of Satan; and he will fall under a double defeat. (1.) His Temptations will ⟨p. 156⟩be repelled by the proper way of resistance, whereon he will not only desist in his Attempt, but even fly from you. Resist the Devil, saith the Apostle, and he will fly from you. He will not only depart and cease to trouble you, but will depart as one defeated and confounded. And it is for want of this resistance lively made use of, that many hang so long in the Briars of this Temptation. (2.) Recalling the Experiences we have had of God, will lead us unto the exercise of all kind of Graces, which is the greatest disappointment of our Adversary.

This shield of Faith managed in the hand of Experience, will quench the fiery darts of Sathan; and he will fall under a double defeat. (1.) His Temptations will ⟨p. 156⟩be repell'd by the proper way of resistance, whereon he will not only desist in his Attempt, but even fly from you. Resist the Devil, saith the Apostle, and he will fly from you. He will not only depart and cease to trouble you, but will depart as one defeated and confounded. And it is for want of this resistance lively made use of, that many hang so long in the Bryars of this Temptation. (2.) Recalling the Experiences we have had of God, will lead us unto the exercise of all kind of Graces, which is the greatest disappointment of our Adversary.

(2.) In Thoughts of the Divine Being and Existence, we are apt to be at a loss, to be as it were overwhelmed in our minds, because the Object is too great and Glorious for us to contemplate on. Eternity and Immensity, every thing under the notion of Infinite, take off the mind from its distinct actings, and reduce it as it were unto nothing. Hereon in some, not able to abide in the strict Reasons of things, vain and foolish Imaginations are apt to arise, and enquiries how can these things be, which we cannot comprehend? Others are utterly at a loss, and turn away their Thoughts from them, as they would do their eyes from the bright beams of the Sun. Two things are advisable in this case.