The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Two Cases deriving from this Principle and Consideration, may be here spoken unto, and shall be so; the first in this, and the other in the following Chapter. The one is concerning the Slowness and Imperceptibility of the Growth of our Affections in their Assimilation unto Heavenly things, with the Causes and Reasons of it. The other is, the Decays that frequently befall Men in their Affections unto Spiritual things instead of growing and thriving in them, with the Reasons and Causes thereof.

Two Cases deriving from this Principle and Consideration, may be here spoken unto, and shall be so; the first in this, and the other in the following Chapter. The one is concerning the Slowness and Imperceptibility of the Growth of our Affections in their Assimulation unto Heavenly things, with the Causes and Reasons of it. The other is, the Decays that frequently befall Men in their Affections unto Spiritual things instead of growing and thriving in them, with the Reasons and Causes thereof.

First, This Progress and Growth of our Affections into Spirituality and Heavenliness, into Conformity unto the things they are set upon, is oft-times very slow, and some times imperceptible. Yea, for the most part, it is a hard ⟨p. 261⟩thing to find it Satisfactorily in our selves or others. Our Affections stand like Shrubs in the Wilderness, which see not when good cometh, and are not like Plants in a Garden enclosed, which is watered every day. But it is not so without our Folly and our Sin.

The Folly that keeps many in this Condition, consists herein; The generality of Christians are contented with their present measures, and design little more, than not to lose the ground they have gained. And a pernicious Folly it is that both ruins the Glory of Religion, and deprives the Souls of Men, of Peace and Consolation. But so it is, Men have some grounds of Persuasion, or at least they hope, and suppose they have such grounds, that they are passed from Death unto Life, that they are in a State of Grace and Acceptance with God. This State they will endeavour to preserve by a diligent Performance of the Duties it requireth, and the avoidance of such Sins, whereby they might make a forfeiture of it. But as for earnest watchful Endeavours and Diligence to thrive in this State, to grow in Grace, to be changed from Glory to Glory into the Image of Christ, to press forwards towards the mark of the High-Calling, and after Perfection to lay hold upon Eternal Life, to be more holy, more humble, more righteous, more Spiritually-minded, to have their Affections more and more transformed into the likeness of things above; they are but few, that sincerely and diligently apply themselves unto it, or unto the means of these things. The Measures which they have attained unto, give Satisfaction unto the Church, and Reputation in the World, that they are Professors, and some so speak Peace unto their own Souls. To be more holy and heavenly, to have their Affections more taken up with the things above, they suppose somewhat inconsistent with their present Occasions and Affairs. By this means hath Religion lost much of its Glory, and the Souls of Men