The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

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 ⟨p. 262⟩have been deprived of the principal Advantages of it in this World.

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 pernitious Folly it is that both ruines the Glory of Religion, and deprives the Souls of Men, of Peace and Consolation. But so it is, Men have some grounds of Perswasion, 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 Dutys 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 attain'd unto, give Satisfaction unto the Church, and Reputation in the World, that they are Professours, 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