The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

When Affections are Spiritually renewed, in their Exercise, or fixing of themselves on Spiritual things; There is an Assimilation wrought in them, and in the whole Soul unto those Spiritual and Heavenly things by Faith. But when there is a Change in them only, from other Causes and Occasions, and not from Renewing Grace, there is an Assimilation effected of Spiritual and Heavenly Things unto themselves, unto those Affections, by Imagination.

WHen Affections are Spiritually renewed, in their Exercise, or fixing of themselves on Spiritual things; There is an Assimulation wrought in them, and in the whole Soul unto those Spiritual and Heavenly things by Faith. But when there is a Change in them only, from other Causes and Occasions, and not from Renewing Grace, there is an Assimulation effected of Spiritual and Heavenly Things unto themselves, unto those Affections, by Imagination.

This must somewhat at large be spoken unto, as that which gives the most eminent Distinction between the Frames of Mind, whose difference we enquire into. And to that end we shall cast our consideration of it into the ensuing Observations.

First, Affections Spiritually renewed are in all their Actings, in their whole Exercise, under the Guidance and Conduct of Faith. It is Faith which in its Spiritual Light, hath the leading of the Soul in the whole Life of God; we live here by Faith, as we shall do hereafter by Light. If our Affections ⟨p. 255⟩deviate or decline in the least from the Guidance of the Faith, they degenerate from their Spirituality, and give up themselves unto the Service of Superstition. Next unto corrupt secular Interest in the management of crafty selfish Seducers, this hath been the great in-let of all Superstition and false Worship into the World. Blind Affection groping in the dark after Spiritual Things, having not the Saving Light of Faith to conduct them; have seduced the Minds of Men into all manner of Superstitions, Imaginations, and Practices, continuing to do so at this day. And wherever they will lead the way, when Faith goeth not before them to discover both way and end, they that lead, and the Mind that is led, must fall into one Snare and Pit or another.