The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

First, It is that which of all things, the Lord Christ is most displeased with in Churches or Professors. He pities them in their Temptations, he suffers with them in their Persecution, he intercedes for them on their Surprisal but threatens them under their Spiritual Decays Rev. 2.4, 5. Chap. 3.2. This he cannot bear with, as that which both reflects Dishonour upon himself, and which he knows to be ruinous unto those in whom it is. He will longer bear with them who are utterly dead, than with those who abide under these Decays, Rev. 3.15, 16. This is the only Case wherein he threatens to reject and cast off a Professing Church, to take away his Candlestick from it, unless it be that of False Worship and Idolatry. He that spake thus unto the Churches of old, speaks now the same unto us; for he lives for ever, and is always the same, and his ⟨p. 276⟩Word is living and unchangeable. There is not one of us who are under this Frame, but the Lord Christ by his Word and Spirit testifieth his displeasure against us; and if he be against us, who shall plead for us. Consider what he says in this Case, Revel. 2.5. Chapter 3.3. O who can stand before these dreadful Intimations of his Displeasure! The Lord help us to mind it, least he in whom we profess to place our only trust, be in our Trial found our greatest Enemy. Take heed of such sins as Christ himself our only Advocate hath put a mark upon, as those which he will not save us in.

First, It is that which of all things, the Lord Christ is most displeased with in Churches or Professors. He pitties them in their Temptations, he suffers with them in their Persecution, he interceeds for them on their Surprizal but threatens them under their Spiritual Decayes Rev. 2.4, 5. Chap. 3.2. This he cannot bear with, as that which both reflects Dishonour upon himself, and which he knows to be ruinous unto those in whom it is. He will longer bear with them who are utterly dead, than with those who abide under these Decayes,