The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Those who have made the greatest Progress in the Conformity of their Affections unto things Spiritual and Heavenly, know most of its Necessity, Excellency, and Desirableness; yea, without some Progress in it, these things will not be known. Such will testify that the more they attain herein, the more they see there is yet to be attained, and the more they do desire to attain what is behind. Forgetting those things which are behind, they reach forth unto the things that are yet before them; like men running in a Race, whose Prize and Reward is yet before them. Phil. 3.13, 14. It is a comely thing to see a Christian weaned from the World, minding Heavenly Things, green and flourishing in Spiritual Affection. And it is the more lovely, because it is so rare. The generality of them take up with those measures, which neither glorify God, nor bring in durable Peace into their own Souls.

Those who have made the greatest Progress in the Conformity of their Affections unto things Spiritual and Heavenly, know most of its Necessity, Excellency, and Desireableness; yea, without some Progress in it, these things will not be known. Such will testify that the more they attain herein, the more they see there is yet to be attained, and the more they do desire to attain what is behind. Forgetting those things which are behind, they reach forth unto the things that are yet before them; like men running in a Race, whose Prize and Reward is yet before them. Phil. 3.13, 14. It is a comely thing to see a Christian weaned from the World, minding Heavenly Things, green and flourishing in Spiritual Affection. And it is the more lovely, because it is so rare. The generality of them take up with those measures, which neither glorifie God, nor bring in durable Peace into their own Souls.

That which men pretend, and complain of herein, is the difficulty of the Work. They can as they suppose preserve their present Station, but to press forward to grow in Grace, to thrive in their Affections, this is too hard for them. But this Complaint is unequal and unjust and adds unto the guilt of their Sloth. It reflects upon the Words of our Saviour, that his Yoke is easy, and his Burden Light, that his Commandments are not grievous. It expresseth Unbelief in the Promises of God, tendering such Supplies of Grace as