The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

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 ⟨p. 180⟩Seat of all Sincerity, which is the Jewel of divine and humane Conversation, the Life and Soul of every thing that is good and praise-worthy, whatever Men pretend, as their Affections are, so are they. Hypocrisy is a deceitful Interposition of the Mind, on various Reasons and Pretences, between Mens Affections and their Profession, whereby a Man appears to be what he is not. Sincerity is the open avowment of the Reality of Mens Affections, which renders them good and useful.

In what we do unto, or for others; whatsoever is good, valuable, or praise-worthy in it, procceds 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 Kindnesss, 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 dispised by him, he owns us not. As if a Man would give all the Substance of his House for Love, it would utterly be coutemned,