The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly, There may be a Decay in Affections themselves as unto their actings towards any Objects whatever; at ⟨p. 274⟩least as unto the outward Symptoms and Effects of them, and on this ground, their Operations towards Spiritual things may be less sensible. So men in their younger days may be more ready to express their Sorrow by tears, and their Joy by sensible Exaltation and Motion of their Spirits, than in riper Years. And this may be so, when there is no Decay of Grace in the Affections as renewed. But

Secondly, There may be a Decay in Affections themselves as unto their actings towards any Objects whatever; at ⟨p. 274⟩least as unto the outward Symptoms and Effects of them, and on this ground, their Opperations towards Spiritual things may be less sensible. So men in their younger days may be more ready to express their Sorrow by tears, and their Joy by sensible Exaltation and Motion of their Spirits, than in riper Years. And this may be so, when there is no Decay of Grace in the Affections as renewed. But

(1) When it is so, it is a Burden unto them in whom it is. They cannot but mourn and have a Godly-Jealousy over themselves, least the Decays they find, should not be in the Outward, but the Inward, not in the natural, but the Spiritual Man. And they will labour that in all Duties, and at all times it may be with them, as in Days of old, although they cannot attain Strength in them that vigour of Spirit, that Life, Joy, Peace, and Comfort which any have had Experience of.

(1) When it is so, it is a Burthen unto them in whom it is. They cannot but mourn and have a Godly-Jealousy over themselves, least the Decayes they find, should not be in the Outward, but the Inward, not in the natural, but the Spiritual Man. And they will labour that in all Duties, and at all times it may be with them, as in Dayes of old, although they cannot attain Strength in them that vigour of Spirit, that Life, Joy, Peace, and Comfort which any have had Experience of.