A53719:52
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.
A particular Account of the Nature of this Grace and Duty of being Spiritually minded. How it is Stated in and evidenced by our Thoughts.
Having Stated the General Concernments of that Frame of mind which is here recommended unto us, we may proceed to enquire more particularly into the Nature of it, according unto the Description before given, in distinct Propositions. And we shall carry on both these Intentions together; First, to show, What it is, and wherein it doth consist; and then how it doth evidence it self, so as that we may frame a right Judgment whether it be in us or no. And we shall have no regard unto them, who either neglect or despise these things on any pretence whatever. For this is the Word according unto which we shall all shortly be Judged; To be Carnally minded is Death; but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace.
HAving Stated the General Concernments of that Frame of mind which is here recommended unto us, we may proceed to enquire more particularly into the Nature of it, according unto the Description before given, in distinct Propositions. And we shall carry on both these Intentions together; First, to shew, What it is, and wherein it doth consist; and then how it doth evidence it self, so as that we may frame a right Judgment whether it be in us or no. And we shall have no regard unto them, who either neglect or despise these things on any pretence whatever. For this is the Word according unto which we shall all shortly be Judged; To be Carnally minded is Death; but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace.
Thoughts and Meditations as proceeding from spiritual Affections are the first things wherein this Spiritual mindedness doth consist, and whereby it doth evidence it self. Our Thoughts are like the Blossoms on a Tree in the Spring. You may see a Tree in the Spring all covered with Blossoms that nothing else of it appears. Multitudes of them fall off and come to nothing. Ofttimes where there are most Blossoms there is least fruit. But yet there is no fruit, be it of what sort it will, Good or Bad, but it comes in and from some of those Blossoms. The mind of man is covered with Thoughts as a Tree with Blossoms. Most of them fall off, vanish and come to nothing, end in Vanity; and sometimes