The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Thirdly. God hath openly and fully declared the Danger that is in these things, as unto their Enjoyment and Use; and what Multitudes of Souls miscarry, by an inordinate adherence unto them. For they are the matter of those Temptations, whereby the Souls of Men are ruined for ever; the Fuel that supplies the Fire of their Lusts until they are consumed by it.

Thirdly. God hath openly and fully declared the Danger that is in these things, as unto their Enjoyment and Use; and what Multitudes of Souls miscarry, by an inordinate adherence unto them. For they are the matter of those Temptations, whereby the Souls of Men are ruined for ever; the Fuel that supplys the Fire of their Lusts until they are consumed by it.

Men under the Power of Spiritual Convictions, fall not ⟨p. 190⟩into Sin, fail not eternally, but by means of Temptation; That is the mire wherein this Rush doth grow. For others who live and die in the madness and wildness of Nature, without any restraint in their Minds from the Power of Convictions, they need no external Temptations, but only Opportunities to exert their Lusts. But for those who by any means are convinced of Sin, Righteousness and Judgement, so as to design the ordering of their Lives, with respect unto the Sense they have of them, they fall not into actual Sin, but upon Temptations. That, whatever it be, which causeth, occasioneth, and prevaileth on a convinced Person, unto Sin, that is Temptation. Wherefore this is the great means of the Ruin of the Souls of men.

Men under the Power of Spiritual Convictions, fall not ⟨p. 190⟩into Sin, fail not eternally, but by means of Temptation; That is the mire wherein this Rush doth grow. For others who live and die in the madness and wildness of Nature, without any restraint in their Minds from the Power of Convictions, they need no external Temptations, but only Opportunities to exert their Lusts. But for those who by any means are convinced of Sin, Righteousness and Judgement, so as to design the ordering of their Lives, with respect unto the Sense they have of them, they fall not into actual Sin, but upon Temptations. That, whatever it be, which causeth, occasioneth, and prevaileth on a convinced Person, unto Sin, that is Temptation. Wherefore this is the great means of the Ruine of the Souls of men.