The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Thirdly, This is that which in an especial manner provoketh the Judgements of God against any Church, as was intimated before When in the Order of Profession and Worship, any Church hath a Name to live, but as to the Power of Grace acting in the Affections, is dead: when it is not so cold as to forsake the external Institutions of Worship, nor so hot as to enliven their Duties with Spiritual Affections, the Lord Christ will not long bear with them; yea, Judgement, will suddenly break out towards such an House of God.

Fourthly, It is absolutely inconsistent with all Comfortable Assurance of the Love of God. Whatever Persons under the Power of such a Frame, pretend unto of that kind, it is sinful Security, not gracious Assurance or Peace. And constantly as Professors grow cold and decay in their Spiritual Affections, Stupidity of Conscience, and Security of Mind do grow also upon them. It is so, I say, unless they are sometimes surprised or overtaken with some greater Sin, which reflects severely on their Consciences, and casts them for a ⟨p. 278⟩time under Troubles and Distresses. But that Peace with God, and a comfortable Assurance of Salvation, should be consistent with an habitual Decay in Grace, especially in those Graces which should act themselves in our Affections, is contrary to the whole Tenor and Testimony of the Scripture; and the Supposition of it would be the Bane and Poison of Religion. I do not say that our Assurance and Peace with God, do arise wholly from the Actings of Grace in us; there are other Causes of them, whereinto they are principally resolved: But this I say, under an habitual Declension, or Decay of Grace in the Spirituality of our Affections, no man can keep or maintain a gracious Sense of the Love of God, or of Peace with him. And therefore there is no Duty more severely to be pressed on all at this Day, than a diligent Examination and Trial of the grounds of their Peace; least it should be with any of them as it was with Laodicea, who was satisfied in her good State and Condition, when it was most miserable, and almost desperate. Yea, I must say, that it is impossible that many Professors, whom we see and converse withal, should have any solid Peace with God. Do men gather Figs from Thorns, or Grapes from Thistles? It is a Fruit that will not grow on a vain, earthly, selfish Frame of Mind and Conversation. And therefore such Persons whatever they pretend, are either asleep in a sinful Security, or live on most uncertain Hopes, which probably may deceive them. Nothing can be so ruinous unto our Profession as once to suppose it is an easy Matter, a thing of Course, to maintain our Peace with God. God forbid but that our utmost Diligence, and continued Endeavours to thrive in every Grace should be required thereunto. The whole Beauty and Glory of our Religion depends hereon. To be Spiritually-Minded is Life and Peace.