The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Fourthly, He doth continue to give perpetual Instances of their uncertainty and unsatisfactoriness in the utter Disappointment of Men that have had Expectations from them. ⟨p. 188⟩The ways hereof are various, and the Instances so multiplied, as that most men in the World, unless they are like the Fool in the Gospel, who had his Soul take its ease for many Years, because his Barns were full, live in perpetual Fears and Apprehensions, that they shall speedily loose whatever they enjoy; or are under the Power of a stupid Security. But as unto this Consideration of them, there is such an Account given by the Wise man, as unto which nothing can be added, or which no Reason or Experience is able to contradict, Eccl. 12. By these and the like ways doth God cast contempt on all things here below; discovering the Folly and Falseness of the Promises which the World makes use of to allure our Affections unto it self. This therefore is to be laid as the Foundation in all our Considerations, unto what or whom we shall cleave by our Affections, that God hath not only declared the Insufficiency of these things, to give us that Rest and Happiness which we seek after, but also poured Contempt upon them, in his Holy, Wise Disposal of them in the World.

Fourthly, He doth continue to give perpetual Instances of their uncertainty and unsatisfactoriness in the utter Disappointment of Men that have had Expectations from them. ⟨p. 188⟩The wayes hereof are various, and the Instances so multiplyed, as that most men in the World, unless they are like the Fool in the Gospel, who had his Soul take its ease for many Years, because his Barns were full, live in perpetual Fears and Apprehensions, that they shall speedily loose whatever they enjoy; or are under the Power of a stupid Security. But as unto this Consideration of them, there is such an Account given by the Wiseman, as unto which nothing can be added, or which no Reason or Experience is able to contradict, Eccl. 12. By these and the like ways doth God cast contempt on all things here below; discouerng the Folly and Falseness of the Promises which the World makes use of to allure our Affections unto it self. This therefore is to be laid as the Foundation in all our Considerations, unto what or whom we shall cleave by our Affections, that God hath not only declared the Insufficiency of these things, to give us that Rest and Happiness which we seek after, but also poured Contempt upon them, in his Holy, Wise Disposal of them in the World.