The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

This is the first reason and ground whereon Affections Spiritually-Renewed, cleave unto Ordinances of Divine Worship, with Delight and Satisfaction; namely, because they are the means appointed and Blessed of God, for the Exercise and Increase of Faith and Love, with an Experience of their Efficacy unto that End.

Secondly, The Second is, Because they are the means of the Communication of a Sense of Divine Love, and Supplies of Divine Grace unto the Souls of them that do believe. So far as our Affections are renewed, this is the most principal attractive to cleave unto them with Delight and Complacency.

Secondly, The Second is, Because they are the meanes of the Communication of a Sense of Divine Love, and Supplies of Divine Grace unto the Souls of them that do believe. So far as our Affections are renewed, this is the most principal attractive to cleave unto them with Delight and Complacency.

They are, as was observed before, the ways of our approaching unto God. Now we do not draw nigh to God, as himself speaks, as a dry Hearth, or a barren Wilderness, where no Refreshment is to be obtained. To make a Pretence of Coming unto God, and not with Expectation of receiving good and great things from him, is to despise God himself, to overthrow the nature of the Duty, and deprive our own Souls of all Benefit thereby. And want hereof, is that which renders the worship of the most, useless and fruitless unto themselves. We are always to come unto God, as unto an Eternal Spring of Goodness, Grace, and Mercy, of all that our Souls do stand in need of, of all we can desire in order unto our Everlasting Blessedness, and all these things, as unto Believers, may be reduced unto the two Heads before mentioned.

They are, as was observed before, the ways of our approaching unto God. Now we do not draw nigh to God, as himself speaks, as a dry Hearth, or a barren Wilderness, where no Refreshment is to be obtained. To make a Pretence of Coming unto God, and not with Expectation of receiving good and great things from him, is to despise God himself, to overthrow the nature of the Duty, and deprive our own Souls of all Benefit thereby. And want hereof, is that which renders the worship of the most, useless and fruitless unto themselves. VVe are alwayes to come unto God, as unto an Eternal Spring of Goodness, Grace, and Mercy, of all that our Souls do stand in need of, of all we can desire in order unto our Everlasting Blessedness, and all these things, as unto Believers, may be reduced unto the two Heads before mentioned.