The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Or these Duties are unto them, like the Sacrifices for Sin under the Law. They gave a guilty Person present Ease. But as the Apostle speaks, they made not men perfect. They took not away utterly a Conscience condemning for Sin. Presently on the first Omission of Duty, a sense of Sin again returned on them and that not only as the Fact, but as the Person himself was condemned by the Law. Then were the Sacrifices to be repeated for a renewed Propitiation. This gave that Carnal People such delight and satisfaction in those Sacrifices, that they trusted unto them for Righteousness, Life and Salvation. So it is with Persons who are constant in Spiritual Duties merely from Conviction. The performance of those Duties gives them a present Relief and Ease, ⟨p. 225⟩though it heal not their Wound, it assuageth their pain, and dispelleth their present Fears. Hence are they frequent in them, and that oft times, not without delight; because they find ease thereby. And their Condition is somewhat dangerous, who upon the sense of the guilt of any Sin, do betake themselves for relief unto their Prayers; which having discharged, they are much at ease in their Minds and Consciences, although they have obtained no real sense of the Pardon of Sin, nor any strength against it.

Or these Duties are unto them, like the Sacifices for Sin under the Law. They gave a guilty Person present Ease. But as the Apostle speaks, they made not men perfect. They took not away utterly a Conscience condemning for Sin. Presently on the first Omission of Duty, a sense of Sin again returned on them and that not only as the Fact, but as the Person himself was condemned by the Law. Then were the Sacrifices to be repeated for a renewed Propitiation. This gave that Carnal People such delight and satisfaction in those Sacrifices, that they trusted unto them for Righteousness, Life and Salvation. So it is with Persons who are constant in Spiritual Duties meerly from Conviction. The performance of those Duties gives them a present Relief and Ease, ⟨p. 225⟩though it heal not their Wound, it asswageth their pain, and dispelleth their present Fears. Hence are they frequent in them, and that oft times, not without delight; because they find ease thereby. And their Condition is somewhat dangerous, who upon the sense of the guilt of any Sin, do betake themselves for relief unto their Prayers; which having discharged, they are much at ease in their Minds and Consciences, although they have obtained no real sense of the Pardon of Sin, nor any strength against it.