The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly, Men may be delighted in the Performance of Outward Duties of Divine Worship, because in them they comply with, and give some kind of Satisfaction unto their Convictions. When Conscience is awakened unto a Sense of the necessities ⟨p. 224⟩of such Duties, namely of those wherein Divine Worship doth consist, it will give the Mind no rest or peace in the neglect of them. Let them be attended unto in the Seasons which Light, Conviction, and Custom call for, it will be so far satisfied, as that the Mind shall find present Ease and Refreshment in it. And when the Soul is wonted unto this Relief, it will not only be diligent in the performance of such Duties, it will not only not omit them, but it will delight in them, as those which bring them in great Advantage. Hence many will not omit the Duty of Prayer every Morning, who upon the matter are resolved to live in Sin all the day long. And there are but few who sedulously endeavour to live and walk in the frame of their Hearts and Ways answerable unto their own Prayers; yet all that is in our Prayers beyond our Endeavours to answer it in a conformity of Heart and Life, is but the Exercise of Gifts in answer to Convictions. Others find them an allay of Troubles in them, like that which sick Persons may find by drinking cold Water in a Fever, whose Flames are assuaged for a season by it. They make them as an Antidote against the Poison and Sting of Sin, which allayeth its rage, but cannot expel its Venom.

Secondly, Men may be delighted in the Performance of Outward Duties of Divine Worship, because in them they comply with, and give some kind of Satisfaction unto their Convictions. When Conscience is awakened unto a Sense of the necessities ⟨p. 224⟩of such Duties, namely of those wherein Divine Worship doth consist, it will give the Mind no rest or peace in the neglect of them. Let them be attended unto in the Seasons which Light, Conviction, and Custome call for, it will be so far satisfyed, as that the Mind shall find present Ease and Refreshment in it. And when the Soul is wonted unto this Relief, it will not only be diligent in the performance of such Duties, it will not only not omit them, but it will delight in them, as those which bring them in great Advantage. Hence many will not omit the Duty of Prayer every Morning, who upon the matter are resolv'd to live in Sin all the day long. And there are but few who sedulously endeavour to live and walk in the frame of their Hearts and Ways answerable unto their own Prayers; yet all that is in our Prayers beyond our Endeavours to answer it in a conformity of Heart and Life, is but the Exercise of Gifts in answer to Convictions. Others find them an allay of Troubles in them, like that which sick Persons may find by drinking cold Water in a Feaver, whose Flames are asswaged for a season by it. They make them as an Antidote against the Poison and Sting of Sin, which alayeth its rage, but cannot expel its Venome.