The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

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. 1 Joh. 2.16. It is not a direct formal annumeration of the things that are in the World, nor a Distribution of them under several Heads, but it is so of the principal Lusts of the Minds, of Men, whereunto all the things in the World are subservient. Wherefore, not only the Matter of all Temptations is taken out of the World, but every thing that is in the World is apt & fit to abused unto that end. For it were easy to show that there is nothing desirable or valuable in this whole world, but it is reducible unto a Subserviency unto one or other of These Lusts, and is applicable unto the Interest and Service of Temptations and Sins.

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 fewel 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. 1 Joh. 2.16. It is not a direct formal annumeration of the things that are in the World, nor a Distribution of them under several Heads, but it is so of the principal Lusts of the Minds, of Men, whereunto all the things in the World are subservient. Wherefore, not only the Matter of all Temptations is taken out of the World, but every thing that is in the World is apt & fit to abused unto that end. For it were easy to shew that there is nothing desirable or valuable in this whole world, but it is reducible unto a Subserviency unto one or other of These Lusts, and is applicable unto the Interest and Service of Temptations and Sins.