The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Secondly, They are by Error and false Information, set at liberty from the only Rule of their Actings and Exercise, that is the Word of God. Men satisfied themselves, that so their Affections were engaged about things Spiritual and Heavenly, it was no matter at all, whether the way of their Exercise was directed by the Scripture or no. Having thus lost their Guide and their Way every Ig•u Fatuus, every wandering Meteor, allures them to follow its Conduct into Foolish Superstitions. Nothing almost is so ridiculous, nothing so Horrid and difficult, that they will not embrace under the notion of things Spiritual and Heavenly.

Secondly, They are by Errour and false Information, set at liberty from the onely Rule of their Actings and Exercise, that is the Word of God. Men satisfyed themselves, that so their Affections were ingaged about things Spiritual and Heavenly, it was no matter at all, whether the way of their Exercise was directed by the Scripture or no. Having thus lost their Guide and their Way every Ig•u Fatuus, every wandring Meteor, allures them to follow its Conduct into Foolish Superstitions. Nothing almost is so ridiculous, nothing so Horrid and difficult, that they will not embrace under the notion of things Spiritual and Heavenly.

Thirdly, The carnal Minds of men, having no Proper Distinct apprehensions and notions of Spiritual things in their own Nature, do Endeavour to present them under such •otions and Images as may suit them unto their carnal unrenewed Affections. For it is implanted a most indelibly upon them, that the end of all Knowledge of Spiritual things is to propose them unto the Embraces of the Affections. It were easy to manifest that from these three corrupt Springs, arose that Flood of Idolatry and False-Worship which spread it self over the Church of Rome, and with whose Machinations the Minds of men are yet too much replenished.

Thirdly, The carnal Minds of men, having no Proper Distinct apprehensions and notions of Spiritual things in their own Nature, do Endeavour to present them under such otions and Images as may suit them unto their carnal unrenewed Affections. For it is implanted a most indelbly upon them, that the end of all Knowledge of Spiritual things is to propose them unto the Embraces of the Affections. It were easy to manifest that from these three corrupt Springs, arose that Flood of Idolatry and False-Worship which spread it self over the Church of Rome, and with whose Machinations the Minds of men are yet too much replenished.