The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

So it is in this case. Men falling under the Power of Convictions, and those restless Fears wherewith they are accompanied, will stir up themselves, and enquire how they may fly from the Wrath to come, how they may be delivered from the State of Sin, and the Eternal Misery which will ensue thereon.

In the Gospel not only Mercy and Pardon are proposed unto them on their believing, which is the first entrance into the Heavenly Country; But Peace, and Joy, and Spiritual Strength upon their Admission into it, and a progress made ⟨p. 263⟩in it by Faith and Obedience. But many when they have attained so far, as that they have some hopes of Pardon and Freedom from the Curse, so as to deliver them from their tormenting Fears, will endeavour to preserve those hopes, and keep that State; but will not pass on to a full Enjoyment of the precious things of the Gospel, by Growth in Grace and Spiritual Affections. But how many of them fall under woeful Mistakes. For supposing themselves to be in a Gospel State, it proves in the Issue, that they never entered into it. They were not it may be far from the Kingdom of Heaven, in the same Sense as it was spoken of him who never came thither. There is no way to secure an Interest in the Gospel, as to Pardon and Mercy, Safety and Deliverance, but by a Growth in Grace, Holiness, and Spirituality, which gives an entrance into the choicest Mercies and Privileges of it.

In the Gospel not only Mercy and Pardon are proposed unto them on their believing, which is the first entrance into the Heavenly Country; But Peace, and Joy, and Spiritual Strength upon their Admission into it, and a progress made ⟨p. 263⟩in it by Faith and Obedience. But many when they have attain'd so far, as that they have some hopes of Pardon and Freedom from the Curse, so as to deliver them from their tormenting Fears, will endeavour to preserve those hopes, and keep that State; but will not pass on to a full Enjoyment of the precious things of the Gospel, by Growth in Grace and Spiritual Affections. But how many of them fall under woful Mistakes. For supposing themselves to be in a Gospel State, it proves in the Issue, that they never entred into it. They were not it may be far from the Kingdom of Heaven, in the same Sense as it was spoken of him who never came thither. There is no way to secure an Interest in the Gospel, as to Pardon and Mercy, Safety and Deliverance, but by a Growth in Grace, Holiness, and Spirituality, which gives an entrance into the choicest Mercies and Priviledges of it.