The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

It is a shame and folly unutterable, that it should be so with any who make Profession of that Religion, wherein there are so many incomparable Excellencies to endear and engage them to it more and more; but why should we hide what Experience makes manifest in the Sight of the Sun; and what multitudes proclaim concerning themselves? Wherefore I look upon it as a great Evidence, if not absolutely of the Sincerity of Grace, yet of the Life and Growth of it, when men as they grow up in age, do grow in an Undervaluation of present things, in contempt of the World, in Duties of Charity and Bounty, and decay not in any of them. But I say, it is usual that the Entrances of Mens Profession of Religion and Conversation unto God, are attended with vigorous active Affections towards Spiritual things. Of them who really and sincerely believed, it is said that on their believing, they rejoiced with Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. And of those who only had a work of Conviction on them, improved by temporary Faith, that they received the Word with Joy, and did many things gladly.

It is a shame and folly unutterable, that it should be so with any who make Profession of that Religion, wherein there are so many incomparable Excellencies to endear and ingage them to it more and more; but why should we hide what Experience makes manifest in the Sight of the Sun; and what multitudes proclaim concerning themselves? Wherefore I look upon it as a great Evidence, if not absolutely of the Sincerity of Grace, yet of the Life and Growth of it, when men as they grow up in age, do grow in an Undervaluation of present things, in contempt of the World, in Duties of Charity and Bounty, and decay not in any of them. But I say, it is usual that the Entrances of Mens Profession of Religion and Conversation unto God, are attended with vigorous active Affections towards Spiritual things. Of them who really and sincerely believed, it is said that on their believing, they rejoyced with Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory. And of those who only had a work of Conviction on them, improved by temporary Faith, that they received the Word with Joy, and did many things gladly.

In this State do many abide and thrive, until their Affections be wholly transformed into the Image and likeness of things above. But with many of all sorts it is not so; they fall into woeful Decays as unto their Affections about Spiritual things, and consequently in their whole Profession and Conversation, their Moisture becomes as the drought in Summer. They have no Experience of the Life and Actings of them in themselves, nor any Comfort, or Refreshment from them; they honour not the Gospel with any Fruits of