The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

(3.) Earnest Desires after a renewed sense and relish of Spiritual things are required hereunto. If we engage into this duty merely on a conviction of the necessity of it, or set our selves about it because we think we ought to do so, and it will not be well done utterly to neglect it, we may not expect to be successful in it: But when the Soul hath at any time tasted that the Lord is gracious, when its Meditations on him have been sweet, when Spiritual things have had a Savour and Relish in the mind and Affections, and hereon it comes unto this ⟨p. 184⟩duty with earnest desires to have the like tastes, the like experience, yea to have them increased; then is it in the way of an hopeful progress. And this also will make us persevere in our endeavours to go through with what we undertake; namely, when we do know by former Experience what is to be attained in it, if we dig and search for it as Treasure.

(3.) Earnest Desires after a renewed sence and relish of Spiritual things are required hereunto. If we ingage into this duty meerly on a conviction of the necessity of it, or set our selves about it because we think we ought to do so, and it will not be well done utterly to neglect it, we may not expect to be successeful in it: But when the Soul hath at any time tasted that the Lord is gracious, when its Meditations on him have been sweet, when Spiritual things have had a Savour and Relish in the mind and Affections, and hereon it comes unto this ⟨p. 184⟩duty with earnest desires to have the like tastes, the like experience, yea to have them encreased; then is it in the way of an hopeful progress. And this also will make us persevere in our endeavours to go through with what we undertake; namely, when we do know by former Experience what is to be attained in it, if we dig and search for it as Treasure.

If you shall think that the right discharge of this duty may be otherwise attained; if you suppose that it deserves not all this Cost and charge about it; Judge by what is past, whether it be not advisable to give it over and let it alone. As good lye quietly on the ground, as continually attempt to rise, and never once effect it. Remember how many successeless attempts you have made upon it, and all have come to nothing, or that which is as bad as nothing. I cannot say that in this way you shall always succeed; But I fear you will never have success in this duty, without such things as are of the same nature and use with it.