The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

But all the Duties of the Second Commandment as are all Instituted Ordinances of Worship, are but means to express and exercise those of the First, as Faith, Love, Fear, Trust and Delight in God. The end of them all is that through them, and by them, we may act those Graces on God in Christ, Where this is not attended unto, when the Souls of Men do not apply themselves unto this Exercise of Grace in them, let them be never so Solemn as to their Outward Performance, be attended unto with Diligence, be performed with earnestness and delight, they are neither acceptable unto God, nor beneficial unto themselves, Isai. 1.11. This therefore is the first general Spring of the Love of Believers, of them whose Affections are Spiritually renewed, unto the Ordinances of Divine Worship, and their delight in them. They have Experience that in and by them, their Faith and Love are excited unto a gracious Exercise of themselves on God in Christ. And when they find it otherwise with them, they can have no rest in their Souls. For this end are they ordained, sanctified and blessed of God, and therefore, are effectual means of it, when their Efficacy is not defeated by Unbelief.

But all the Duties of the Second Commandment as are all Instituted Ordinances of Worship, are but means to express and exercise those of the First, as Faith, Love, Fear, Trust and Delight in God. The end of them all is that through them, and by them, we may act those Graces on God in Christ, Where this is not attended unto, when the Souls of Men do not apply themselves unto this Exercise of Grace in them, let them be never so Solemn as to their Outward Performance, be attended unto with Diligence, be performed with earnestness and delight, they are neither acceptable unto God, nor beneficial unto themselves, Isai. 1.11. This therefore is the first general Spring of the Love of Believers, of them whose Affections are Spiritually renewed, unto the Ordinances of Divine Worship, and their delight in them. They have Experience that in and by them, their Faith and Love are excited unto a gracious Exercise of themselves on God in Christ. And when they find it otherwise with them, they can have no rest in their Souls. For this end are they ordained, sanctifyed and blessed of God, and therefore, are effectual means of it, when their Efficacy is not defeated by Unbelief.