A53719:514
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded
Phronemma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...Phronēma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...
London: printed by J.G. for Nathaniel Ponder, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, The Reputation of Devotion in Religious Duties, may insensibly affect the unrenewed Minds of Men with great diligence and delight in their performance. However Men are divided in their Apprehension and Practice about Religion; however different from, and contrary unto each other, their ways of Divine Worship are; Yet it is amongst all sorts of men, yea, in the secret thoughts of them who outwardly contemn these things, a matter of Reputation to be devout, to be diligent, to be strict in and about those Duties of Religion, which according to their own Light and Persuasion they judge incumbent on them. This greatly affects the Minds of Men, whilst Pride is secretly predominant ⟨p. 228⟩in them, and they love the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God.
Fourthly, The Reputation of Devotion in Religious Duties, may insensibly affect the unrenewed Minds of Men with great diligence and delight in their performance. However Men are divided in their Apprehension and Practice about Religion; however different from, and contrary unto each other, their ways of Divine Worship are; Yet it is amongst all sorts of men, yea, in the secret thoughts of them who outwardly contemn these things, a matter of Reputation to be devout, to be diligent, to be strict in and about those Duties of Religion, which according to their own Light and Perswasion they judge incumbent on them. This greatly affects the Minds of Men, whil'st Pride is secretly predominant ⟨p. 228⟩in them, and they love the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God.
Especially, will this Consideration prevail on them, when they suppose that the Credit and Honour of the way which they profess, in competition with others, depends much on their Reputation as to their strictness, in Duties of Devotion. For then, will they not only be diligent in themselves, but zealous in drawing others unto the same Observances. These two Principles their own Reputation, and that of their Sect, constituted the Life and Soul of Pharisaism of old. According as the Minds of men are influenced with these Apprehensions, so will a love unto, and a delight in those Duties whereby their Reputation is attained, thrive and grow in them.