The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

All others are stubborn and obstinate, stout Hearted and far from Righteousness. And when the World hath the Hand on our Affections, it turns the Mind, with the whole Industry of the Soul unto its Interest and Concerns. And it is vain to contend with any thing that hath the Power of our Affections in its disposal, it will prevail at last.

On all these Considerations, it is of the highest importance to consider a right how things are stated in our Affections, and what is the prevailing bent of them. Iron sharpneth Iron, so a Man sharpeneth the Countenance of his Friend, sayeth the wise Man, Prov. 27.17. Every man hath his Edge, which may be sharpened by outward helps and advantages. The predominant Inclination of a Mans Affections, is his Edge. According as that is set, so he cutteth and works; that way, he is sharp and keen, but blunt unto all other things.

Now because it must be, that our affections are either Spiritual or Earthly in a Prevailing degree, that either God hath our hearts, or the World; that our edge is towards Heaven, or towards things here below: before I came to give an account of the Nature and Operations of Spiritual Affections, I shall consider and propose some of those Arguments and Motives which God is pleased to make use of, to call off our Affections from the desirable things of this World; For as they are weighty and cogent, such as cannot be neglected without the greatest contempt of Divine Wisdom and Goodness; So they serve to press and enforce those arguments and motives, that are proposed unto us to set our Affections on things that are above, which is to be Spiritually minded.

Now because it must be, that our affections are either Spiritual or Earthly in a Prevailing degree, that either God hath our hearts, or the World; that our edge is towards Heaven, or towards things here below: before I came to give an account of the Nature and Opperations of Spiritual Affections, I shall consider and propose some of those Arguments and Motives which God is pleased to make use of, to call off our Affections from the desireable things of this World; For as they are wightly and cogent, such as cannot be neglected without the greatest contempt of Divine Wisdom and Goodness; So they serve to press and enforce those arguments and motives, that are proposed unto us to set our Affections on things that are above, which is to be Spiritually minded.