The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Our Affections are upon the Matter our all. They are all we have to give or bestow; the only Power of our Souls, whereby, if we may give away our selves from our selves, and become another's. Other Faculties of our Souls, even the most noble of them, are suited to receive in unto our own advantage; by our Affections we can give away what we are, and have. Hereby, we give our Hearts unto God, as he requireth. Wherefore unto him we give our Affections, unto whom we give our All, our selves, and all that we have; and to whom we give them not, what ever we give, upon the matter, we give nothing at all.

Our Affections are upon the Matter our all. They are all we have to give or bestow; the only Power of our Souls, whereby, if we may give away our selves from our selves, and become anothers. Other Faculties of our Souls, even the most noble of them, are suited to receive in unto our own advantage; by our Affections we can give away what we are, and have. Hereby, we give our Hearts unto God, as he requireth. Wherefore unto him we give our Affections, unto whom we give our All, our selves, and all that we have; and to whom we give them not, what ever we give, upon the matter, we give nothing at all.

In what we do unto, or for others; whatsoever is good, valuable, or praise-worthy in it, proceeds from the Affections wherewith we do it. To do any thing for others without an animating Affection, is but a contempt of them, for we Judge them really unworthy, that we should do any thing for them: To give to the Poor upon their importunity, without Pity or Compassion; To supply the wants of Saints without Love, and Kindness, with other actings and Duties of the like Nature, are things of no value, things that recommend us neither unto God nor men. It is so in general with God and the World. Whatsoever we do in the Service of God, whatever duty we perform on his Command, whatever we undergo, or suffer for his Name-Sake, if it proceed not from the cleaving of our Souls unto him by our Affections, it is despised by him, he owns us not. As if a Man would give all the Substance of his House for Love, it would utterly be contemned, Cant. 5. It is not to be bought nor purchased with Riches; So if a man would give to God all the Substance of his House without Love, it would in like manner be despised. And however, on the other hand, we may be diligent, industrious, and sedulous in and about the things of this World, yet, if it have not our Affections, we are not of the World, we belong not unto it. They are the