The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

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.

Now, though there are many Principles of Temptation, many Causes that actually concur unto its Efficacy, as Sin, Satan, and other Men, yet the Matter of almost all ruinous Temptations is taken out of this World, and the things of it. Thence doth Satan take all his Darts: Thence do evil Men derive all the ways and means whereby they corrupt others, and from thence is all the fuel of Sin, and Lust taken. And which adds unto this evil, all that is in the World, contributes its utmost thereunto. All that is in the World, is the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life.