The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

And it you can be no way affected with the Remembrance of former things; then one of these two great Evils, you are certainly under. For either, (1) you never had a true and ⟨p. 286⟩real Work on your Souls, whatever you professed; and so never had true and real Communion with God in any Duties. You had only a temporary Work, which excited your Affections for a season, which now it is worn off, leaves no sweet Remembrance of it self upon your Minds. Had your Faith and Love been sincere in what you did, it were impossible but that the Remembrance of their Actings in some especial Instances, should be sweet and refreshing unto you. Or else,

(2) You are hardened through the Deceitfulness of Sin, and there is no way left to give a Sense or Impression of Spiritual things upon your Minds. You have truly nothing left in Religion, but the Fear of Hell, and trouble of Duties. I speak not to such at present.

(2) You are hardened through the Deceitfulness of Sin, and there is no way left to give a Sense or Impression of Spiritual things upon your Minds. You have truely nothing left in Religion, but the Fear of Hell, and trouble of Duties. I speak not to such at present.

As unto those unto whom this Frame is a Burden; there is no more effectual means to stir them unto Endeavours for Deliverance, than a continual Remembrance of former things, and Experiences they have had of holy Intercourse and Communion with God. This will revive, quicken, and strengthen the things that are ready to dye, and beget a Self-Abhorrency in them, in consideration of that woeful Frame and temper of Mind, which by their Sins and Negligence they have brought themselves into.