The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Wherefore Affections that are Spiritually renewed, move not, act not, but as Faith discovers their Object, and directs them unto it. It is Faith that works by Love, we can love nothing sincerely with divine Love, but what we believe Savingly with Divine Faith. Let our Affections unto any Spiritual Things be never so vehement, if they spring not from Faith, if they are not guided by it, they are neither accepted with God, nor will promote the Interest of Spirituality and Holiness in our own Souls. Heb. 11.6. Mat. 6.22, 23. And this is the reason whence we oft times see great and plausible Appearances of Spiritual Affections, which yet endure only for a Season. They have been awakened, excited, acted by one means or another outward or inward; but not having the Light of Faith to guide them unto their proper Object, they either wither and dye, as unto any appearing of Spiritual Motions▪ or else keep the Mind tossed up and down in perpetual disquietment, without rest or Peace. The foolish Man wearieth himself, because he cannot find the way to the City. So was it with them who on the account of their Attendance unto ⟨p. 256⟩the Doctrine of Christ, are called his Disciples, Joh. 6. Having preached unto them about the Bread which came down from Heaven, and giveth Life unto them that feed, they were greatly affected with it, and cried out, Lord, evermore, give us of this Bread, v. 34. But when he proceeded to declare the Mystery of it, they having not Faith to discern and apprehend it, their Affections immediately decayed, and they forsook both him and his Doctrine, vers. 66.

Wherefore Affections that are Spiritually renewed, move not, act not, but as Faith discovers their Object, and directs them unto it. It is Faith that works by Love, we can love nothing sincerely with divine Love, but what we believe Savingly with Divine Faith. Let our Affections unto any Spiritual Things be never so vehement, if they spring not from Faith, if they are not guided by it, they are neither accepted with God, nor will promote the Interest of Spirituality and Holiness in our own Souls.