The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

I confess he must be a great Proficient in Spirituality, who dares venture on an absolute Retirement, and he must be well satisfied that he is not called unto an usefulness among men inconsistent therewith: Unto them it may prove a disadvantage: Yet this also is attainable if other Circumstances do concur. Men under the due Exercise of Grace and the Improvement of it, may attain unto that fixedness in Heavenly-mindedness, that Inconcernment in all things here below, as to give themselves up entirely and continually unto Heavenly Meditation, unto a blessed Advancement of all Grace, and a near approach unto Glory. ⟨p. 180⟩And I would hope it was so with many of them in ancient times, who renounced the World, with all Circumstances of Relations, State, Inheritances, and betook themselves unto Retirement in Wildernesses, to abide always in Divine Contemplation. But afterwards when Multitudes whose minds were not so prepared, by a real growth in all Grace and Mortification unto the World, as they were, betook themselves under the same pretences unto a Monastical Retirement; the Devil, the World, sensual Lusts, Superstition, and all manner of Evils pursued them, found them out, possessed them, unto the unspeakable damage and Scandal of Religion.

I confess he must be a great Proficient in Spirituality, who dares venture on an absolute Retirement, and he must be well satisfied that he is not called unto an usefulness among men inconsistent therewith: Unto them it may prove a disadvantage: Yet this also is attainable if other Circumstances do concur. Men under the due Exercise of Grace and the Improvement of it, may attain unto that fixedness in Heavenly-mindedness, that Inconcernment in all things here below, as to give themselves up intirely and continually unto Heavenly Meditation, unto a blessed Advancement of all Grace, and a near approach unto Glory. ⟨p. 180⟩And I would hope it was so with many of them in ancient times, who renounced the World, with all Circumstances of Relations, State, Inheritances, and betook themselves unto Retirement in Wildernesses, to abide alwayes in Divine Contemplation. But afterwards when Multitudes whose minds were not so prepared, by a real growth in all Grace and Mortification unto the World, as they were, betook themselves under the same pretences unto a Monastical Retirement; the Devil, the World, sensual Lusts, Superstition, and all manner of Evils pursued them, found them out, possessed them, unto the unspeakable dammage and Scandal of Religion.