The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Thirdly, If you would be able to make a right Judgement in this Case, be sure that you have another Object for your Affections, which hath a predominant Interest in your ⟨p. 195⟩Minds, and which will Evidence it self so to have on all Occasions. Let a Man be never so observant of himself, as unto all Outward Duties required to him, with respect unto these earthly things; let him be liberal in the Disposal of them on all Occasions, let him be watchful against all Intemperance and Excesses in the use of them; yet if he hath not another Object for his Affections, which hath a prevailing Influence upon them, if they are not set upon the Things that are above, one way or other, it is the World that hath the Possession of his Heart. For the Affections of our Minds will, and must be placed in chief, on things below, or things above; there will be a predominant Love in us; and therefore, although all our Actions should testify another Frame, yet if God, and the things of God be not the Principal Object of our Affections, by one way or other, unto the World we do belong; this is that which is taught us so expressly by our Saviour, Luk. 16.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And I say unto you, make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting Habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon, Who will commit to your trust the true Riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's Mans, who shall give you that which is your own? No Servant can serve two Masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other; ye cannot serve God and Mammon.

Thirdly, If you would be able to make a right Judgement in this Case, be sure that you have another Object for your Affections, which hath a predominant Interest in your ⟨p. 195⟩Minds, and which will Evidence it self so to have on all Occasions. Let a Man be never so observant of himself, as unto all Outward Dutys required to him, with respect unto these earthly things; let him be liberal in the Disposal of them on all Occasions, let him be watchful against all Intemperance and Excesses in the use of them; yet if he hath not another Object for his Affections, which hath a prevailing Influence upon them, if they are not set upon the Things that are above, one way or other, it is the World that hath the Possession of his Heart. For the Affections of our Minds will, and must be placed in chief, on things below, or things above; there will be a predominant Love in us; and therefore, although all our Actions should testify another Frame, yet if God, and the things of God be not the Principal Object of our Affections, by one way or other, unto the World we do belong; this is that which is taught us so expresly by our Saviour,