The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Much more when we see men not only giving up the whole of their time and strength, with the vigour of their Spirits, but sacrificing their Consciences also unto the attaining of Dignities, Honours, Preferments, Wealth, and Ease in the World, who know in their own Hearts that they perform Religious Duties with respect unto temporal Advantages, I cannot conceive how it is possible they should discern and approve of a Goodness and ⟨p. 304⟩Excellency in Spiritual things, above all others.

A due Consideration is required hereunto, that all Spiritual things do proceed from, and are resolved into an infinite Fountain of Goodness, so as that our Affections may absolutely come unto Rest and Complacency, and find full assured Satisfaction in them. It is otherwise as unto all temporal things. Men would very fain have them to be such, as might give absolute Rest and Satisfaction unto all their Affections. But they are every one of them so far from it, that all of them together cannot compose their Minds in Rest and Peace for one hour. They gain sometimes a Transport of Affections, and seem for a season to have filled the whole Soul, so as it hath no leisure to consider their Emptiness and Vanity. But a little Composure of Mens thoughts, show that they are but a Diversion in a Journey or Labour, they are no Rest. Hence are they called broken Cisterns that will hold no Water. Let a man prize them at the highest rate that it is possible for a rational Creature to be reduced into the thoughts of, whereof there have been prodigious Instances; let him possess them in abundance beyond whatever any man enjoyed in this World, or his own Imagination could before hand reach unto; let him be assured of the utmost peaceable Continuance in the Enjoyment of them; •hat his and their natures are capable of; yet would he not dare to pretend, that all his Affections were filled and Satisfied with them, that they afforded him perfect Rest and Peace. Should he do so, the working of his Mind every Day would convince him of his Falsehood and his Folly.

A due Consideration is required hereunto, that all Spiritual things do proceed from, and are resolved into an infinite Fountain of Goodness, so as that our Affections may absolutely come unto Rest and Complacency, and find full assured Satisfaction in them. It is otherwise as unto all temporal things. Men would very fain have them to be such, as might give absolute Rest and Satisfaction unto all their Affections. But they are every one of them so far from it, that all of them together cannot compose their Minds in Rest and Peace for one hour. They gain sometimes a Transport of Affections, and seem for a season to have filled the whole Soul, so as it hath no leasure to consider their Emptiness and Vanity. But a little Composure of Mens thoughts, shew that they are but a Diversion in a Journey or Labour, they are no Rest. Hence are they called broken Cisterns that will hold no Water. Let a man prize them at the highest rate that it is possible for a rational Creature to be reduced into the thoughts of, whereof there have been prodigious Instances; let him possess them in abundance beyond whatever any man enjoyed in this World, or his own Imagination could before hand reach unto; let him be assured of the utmost peaceable Continuance in the Enjoyment of them; hat his and their natures are capable of; yet would he not dare to pretend, that all his Affections were filled and Satisfyed with them, that they afforded him perfect Rest and Peace. Should he do so, the working of his Mind every Day would convince him of his Falsehood and his Folly.