The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Fifthly, Whatever is pretended unto the contrary, it is inconsistent with all solid Peace of Conscience. For so ⟨p. 266⟩such thing is promised unto any who live in such a Contempt of Divine Promises; nor is it attainable but by the diligent Exercise of all those Graces which lye neglected under this Frame. Few men are able to judge whether they have real, eternal, abiding Peace or no, unless it be in Case of Trials and Temptations. At other Seasons, general Hopes and Confidences do, or may supply the want of it in their Minds. But when any Fear, Danger, Trial, or Word of Conviction befalls them, they cannot but enquire and examine how it is with them. And if they find their Affections cold, dead, earthly, carnal, withering, not spiritual or heavenly, there will be an end of their supposed Peace, and they will fall into woeful Disquietments, and they will then find that the Root of all this Evil lies in this Frame and Disposition. They have been so far satisfied with their present measures or attainments in Religion, as that the utmost of their Endeavours have been, but to preserve their Station, or not to forfeit it by open Sins, to keep their Souls alive from the severe Reflections of the Word and their Reputation fair in the Church of God. Spiritually to thrive, to prosper in their Souls, to wax fat and flourishing in the Inward Man, to bring forth more fruit as Age increaseth, to press towards Perfection, are things they have not designed nor pursued.

Fifthly, Whatever is pretended unto the contrary, it is inconsistent with all solid Peace of Conscience. For so ⟨p. 266⟩such thing is promised unto any who live in such a Contempt of Divine Promises; nor is it attainable but by the diligent Exercise of all those Graces which lye neglected under this Frame. Few men are able to judge whether they have real, eternal, abiding Peace or no, unless it be in Case of Tryals and Temptations. At other Seasons, general Hopes and Confidences do, or may supply the want of it in their Minds. But when any Fear, Danger, Tryal, or Word of Conviction befalls them, they cannot but enquire and examine how it is with them. And if they find their Affections cold, dead, earthly, carnal, withering, not spiritual or heavenly, there will be an end of their supposed Peace, and they will fall into woful Disquietments, and they will then find that the Root of all this Evil lyes in this Frame and Disposition. They have been so far satisfyed with their present measures or attainments in Religion, as that the utmost of their Endeavours have been, but to preserve their Station, or not to forfeit it by open Sins, to keep their Souls alive from the severe Reflections of the Word and their Reputation fair in the Church of God. Spiritually to thrive, to prosper in their Souls, to wax fat and flourishing in the Inward Man, to bring forth more fruit as Age increaseth, to press towards Perfection, are things they have not designed nor pursued.