The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

By this Change, where it is alone, no man ever became Spiritually-Minded. For whereas there are two parts of the Depravation of our Affections, that whereby they are turned off from God, and that whereby they inordinately cleave unto other things; their Change principally, if not only, respects the latter. They are brought into some Order with respect unto present things. The Mind is not continually tossed up and down by them, as the Waves of the Sea, that are troubled and cast up mire and dirt. They do not carry those in whom they are into vicious sensual Actions, but they allow them to make Virtue in Moderation, Sobriety, Temperance, Fidelity, and Usefulness in several Ways, to be their Design. And it is admirable to think what Degrees of Eminency in all sorts of Moral Virtues upon this one Principle of moderating the Affections, even many among the Heathens attained unto. But as unto their Aversation from God and Spiritual things, in the true Spiritual Notion of them, they are not cured by this Change. At least this Change may be, and yet this latter not be wrought.

By this Change, where it is alone, no man ever became Spiritually-Minded. For whereas there are two parts of the Depravation of our Affections, that whereby they are turned off from God, and that whereby they inordinately cleave unto other things; their Change principally, if not only, respects the latter. They are brought into some Order with respect unto present things. The Mind is not continually tossed up and down by them, as the Waves of the Sea, that are troubled and cast up mire and dirt. They do not carry those in whom they are into vitious sensual Actions, but they allow them to make Vertue in Moderation, Sobriety, Temperance, Fidelity, and Usefulness in several Ways, to be their Design. And it is admirable to think what Degrees of Eminency in all sorts of Moral Vertues upon this one Principle of moderating the Affections, even many among the Heathens attained unto. But as unto their Aversation from God and Spiritual things, in the true Spiritual Notion of them, they are not cured by this Change. At least this Change may be, and yet this latter not be wrought.

Again, This Alteration doth but turn the Course or Stream of Mens Affections, it doth not change the Nature of them. They are the same in their Spring and Fountain, as ever they were, only they are habituated unto another Course than what of themselves they are inclined unto. You may take a young Whelp of the most fierce and savage Creatures, as of a Tiger, or a Wolf, and by custom or usage, make it as tame and harmless as any domestic Creature, a Dog or the like. But although it may be turned unto quite another way or course of acting, than what it was of it self inclined unto, yet its nature is not changed. And therefore, frequently on Occasion, Opportunity, or Provocation it will fall into its own