The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Thirdly, There is considerable concerning them, the measure of their Attainments, or what through due Exercise and holy Diligence they may be raised unto. Now this is not absolute Perfection. Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I follow after, as the Apostle speaks, Phil. 3.12. But there is that attainable, which those who pretend highly unto Perfection, seem to be Strangers unto. And the State of our Affections under a due Exercise on heavenly things, and in their Assimilation unto them, may be fixed in these three things.

Thirdly, There is considerable concerning them, the measure of their Attainments, or what through due Exercise and holy Diligence they may be raised unto. Now this is not absolute Perfection. Not as though I had already attain'd, or were already perfect, but I follow after, as the Apostle speaks, Phil. 3.12. But there is that attainable, which those who pretend highly unto Perfection, seem to be Strangers unto. And the State of our Affections under a due Exercise on heavenly things, and in their Assimulation unto them, may be fixed in these three things.

(1) An habitual Suitableness unto Spiritual things, upon the proposal of them. The ways whereby Spiritual things are proposed unto our Minds are various. They are so directly in all Ordinances of Divine Worship; they are so indirectly and in just consequence, by all the especial Providences wherein we are concerned, by our own thoughts and stated Meditations; they are so by the motions of the Holy Spirit, when he causeth us to hear a •ord behind us saying, this is the Way, walk in it; by holy Converse with others; by all sorts of occurrences. And as the ways of their Proposal are ⟨p. 293⟩various, so the Times and Seasons wherein a Representation of them is made unto us, are comprehensive of all, at least are not exclusive of any times and seasons of our Lives. Be the way of their Proposal what it will, and when ever be the season of it, if our affections are duly improved by Spiritual Exercises, they are suited unto them, and will be ready to give them Entertainment. Hence, or for want hereof on the other hand are ergiversations and Shiftings in Duties, Proneness to comply with Diversion, all to keep off the Mind from closing with, and receiving of those Spiritual things which it is not suited unto. Wherefore as unto the solemn way of proposing Spiritual things unto our Minds which is in and by the Ordinances of Divine Worship, when men have a prevalent loathness to engage in them, or when they are satisfied with an outward Attendance on them, but not enabled unto a vigorous stirring up of the inward man unto an holy affectionate converse with Spiritual and heavenly things, it is because they are carnal. When men can receive the fiery Darts of Satan in his Temptations into their Bosoms, and suffer them to abide there, yea, foster and cherish them in thoughts of the Lusts that they kindle, but quickly quench the Motions of the Spirit, stirring them up unto the embracing of heavenly things; they are carnal, and carnally-Minded. When Providences of Concernment in Afflictions, Trials, Deliverances, do not engage the Mind into thoughts of Spiritual things, and excite the Affections unto the Entertainment of them, Men are carnal and earthly, When every Lust, Corruption, or Passion, as Anger, Envy, Displeasure at this or that Person or thing, can divert the Mind from compliance with the Proposal of Spiritual things that is made unto it, we are carnal.