The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

As they come unto them with these Designs and Expectations, so they have Experience of the Spiritual Benefits and Advantages which they receive by them, which more and more engageth them unto them in their Affections and Delights. All these things, those who have a Change wrought in their Affections, but not a Spiritual Renovation, are Strangers unto. They neither have the Design before mentioned in coming to them, nor the Experience of this Efficacy now proposed in their Attendance on them. But these Benefits are great; as for Instance, when Men find the worth and Effect of the Word Preached on their Souls in its enlightening, refreshing, strengthening, transforming Power; when they find their Hearts warmed, their Graces excited and strengthened, the Love of God improved, their Disponding Spirits under Trials and Temptations relieved, their whole Souls gradually more and more Conformed unto Christ: when they find themselves by it extricated out of Snares, Doubts, Fears, Temptations, and brought unto Satisfaction and Rest, they cannot but delight in the Dispensation of it, and rejoice in it as the Food of their Souls. And it is a great Hinderance unto the Increase of Spiritual Life, and Obstruction unto Fruitfulness, Thankfulness, and Consolation, when we are negligent in our Meditation about the Benefits that we receive by the Word, and the Advantages which we have thereby. For whilst it is so with us, we can neither value the Grace of God, in granting us this Inestimable Privilege, nor perform any Duty with respect unto it, in a right manner. This renders it an especial Object of our Affections as Spiritually renewed. That Secret Love unto, and Heavenly Delight in the Statutes and Testimonies of God, which David expresseth, Psal 119. arose from the Spiritual Benefit and Advantage which he received by them, as he constantly declares. And the sole Reason on the other hand, ⟨image 137⟩why men grow so careless, negligent, and cold in their Attendance unto the Preaching of the Word, is because they have no Experience of any Spiritual Benefit, or Advantage by it. They have been brought unto it by one means or another, mostly by conviction of their Duty. Their Minds have been variously affected with it, unto a Joy in the hearing of it, and readiness unto sundry Duties Of Obedience.

As they come unto them with these Designs and Expectations, so they have Experience of the Spiritual Benefits and Advantages which they receive by them, which more and more engageth them unto them in their Affections and Delights. All these things, those who have a Change wrought in their Affections, but not a Spiritual Renovation, are Strangers unto. They neither have the Design before mentioned in coming to them, nor the Experience of this Efficacy now proposed in their Attendance on them. But these Benefits are great; as for Instance, when Men find the worth and Effect of the Word Preached on their Souls in its enlightning, refreshing, strengthening, transforming Power; when they find their Hearts warmed, their Graces excited and strengthened, the Love of God improved, their Disponding Spirits under Trials and Temptations relieved, their whole Souls gradually more and more Conformed unto Christ: when they find themselves by it extricated out of Snares, Doubts, Fears, Temptations, and brought unto Satisfaction and Rest, they cannot but delight in the Dispensation of it, and rejoyce in it as the Food of their Souls. And it is a great Hinderance unto the Encrease of Spiritual Life, and Obstruction unto Fruitfulness, Thrnkfulness, and Consolation, when we are negligent in our Meditation about the Benefits that we receive by the Word, and the Advantages which we have thereby. For whil'st it is so with us, we can neither value the Grace of God, in granting us this Inestimable Priviledge, nor perform any Duty with respect unto it, in a right manner. This renders it an especial Object of our Affections as Spiritually renewed. That Secret Love unto, and Heavenly Delight in the Statutes and Testimonies of God, which David expresseth, Psal 119. arose from the Spiritual Benefit and Advantage which he received by them, as he constantly declares. And the sole Reason on the other hand,