The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly, It is because Men dwell continually upon the Entrances of Religion in the first and lowest Exercise of Grace; some are always beginning at Religion, and the beginning of things are always difficult. They design not to be Complete in the whole Will of God, nor to give all Graces their perfect Work. They do not with use, habituate Grace unto a readiness in all the Actings of it, which the Apostle commends in them that are perfect or complete, Heb. 5.14. Hence he calls such Persons Babes, and Carnal, comparatively ⟨p. 269⟩unto them that are strong men and Spiritual. Such Persons do not oblige themselves unto the whole Work, and all the Duties of Religion, but only what they Judge necessary unto them in their present Circumstances. In particular, they do not attempt a thorough-work in the Mortification of any Sin, but are hewing and hacking at it, as their Convictions are urgent, or abate, the Wounds whereof in the Body of Sin, are quickly healed. They give not any Grace its perfect Work, but are always making Essays, and so give over.

Secondly, It is because Men dwell continually upon the Entrances of Religion in the first and lowest Exercise of Grace; some are alwayes beginning at Religion, and the beginning of things are alwayes difficult. They design not to be Compleat in the whole Will of God, nor to give all Graces their perfect Work. They do not with use, habituate Grace unto a readiness in all the Actings of it, which the Apostle commends in them that are perfect or compleat, Heb. 5.14. Hence he calls such Persons Babes, and Carnal, comparatively ⟨p. 269⟩unto them that are strong men and Spiriual. Such Persons do not obliege themselves unto the whole Work, and all the Duties of Religion, but only what they Judge necessary unto them in their present Circumstances. In particular, they do not attempt a thorow-work in the Mortification of any Sin, but are hewing and hacking at it, as their Convictions are urgent, or abate, the Wounds whereof in the Body of Sin, are quickly healed. They give not any Grace its perfect Work, but are alwayes making Essayes, and so give over.