The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Thus there are many who in other things are reduced unto Moderation, Sobriety and Temperance yet there remaineth in them the Love of Money in a predominant Degree, which to them is the Root of all evil, as the Apostle Speaks, some seem to be Religious, but they bridle not their Tongues through Anger, Envy, Hatred, and the like, their Religion is in vain.

Thus there are many who in other things are reduced unto Moderation, Sobriety and Temperance yet there remaineth in them the Love of Mony in a predominant Degree, which to them is the Root of all evil, as the Apostle Speaks, some seem to be Religious, but they bridle not their Tongues through Anger, Envy, Hatred, and the like, their Religion is in vain.

The most of Men in their several ways of Profession, pretend not only unto Religion, but unto zeal in it, yet set no Bounds unto their Affections unto earthly Enjoyments. Some of old who had most eminently in all other things subdued their Passions and Affections, were the greatest Enemies unto, and Persecutors of the Gospel.

Some who seem to have had a mighty Change wrought in them by a Superstitious Devotion, do yet walk in the Spirit of Cain towards all the Disciples of Christ, as it is with the principal Devotionists in the Church of Rome; and elsewhere we may see some go soberly about the Persecution and Destruction of other Christians. Some will cherish one Secret Lust or other, which they cannot but know to be pernicious unto their Souls. Some love the Praise, of Men, which will never permit them to be truly Spiritually Minded; so our Saviour testifieth of some, that they could not believe, because they loved the Praise of Men. This was the known Vice of all the ancient Philosophers. They had many of them on the Principles of Reason, and by severe Exercise subdued their Affections unto great Moderation about Temporary things. But in the mean time were all of them Slaves to vain glory, and the praise of men, until by the public Observation of it, and some Contradictions in their Lives unto their Pretences unto Virtue, they lost that also among wise and considerative Men. And generally if men, not Spiritually renewed, were able to search themselves, they would find that some of their Affections are so far from having any change wrought in them, as that they are a quiet Habitation for Sin, where it exerciseth its Rule and Dominion.