The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

This is that which attracts our Souls by holy Admiration unto unspeakable Delight. And the Reason why Men do so generally decline from any Love unto the Gospel, and lose all Satisfaction in the Mystery of it, is because they are not able to discern that infinite Wisdom which is the Spring, Life, and Soul of it. When our Minds are raised unto the admiration of this Wisdom in Divine Revelations, then will our affections cleave unto the things that are revealed.

This is that which attracts our Souls by holy Admiration unto unspeakable Delight. And the Reason why Men do so generally decline from any Love unto the Gospel, and lose all Satisfaction in the Mystery of it, is because they are not able to discern that infinite Wisdom which is the Spring, Life, and Soul of it. VVhen our Minds are raised unto the admiration of this VVisdom in Divine Revelations, then will our affections cleave unto the things that are revealed.

Thirdly, The acting of our affections in their adherence unto spiritual things is perfective of our present State and Condition. That which of all other things doth most debase the nature of Man, wherein it makes the nearest approaches unto Brutality, yea, whereby it becomes in some Respects ⟨p. 307⟩more vile than the nature of Beasts, is the giving up of the Affections unto things sensual, unclean, base, and unworthy of its more noble Principles. Hence are men said to debase themselves unto Hell, Isai. 57.9. And their Affections do become vile; so as that their being under the Power of them, is an Effect of Revenging Justice punishing men for the worst of Sins, Rom. 1.26. There is nothing more vile, nothing more contemptible, nothing more like to Beasts in Baseness, and to Hell in Punishment, then is the Condition of them who have enslaved their nature unto brutish sensual Affections. I say vile Affections fixed on, and cleaving unto sensual Objects, do debase the nature of man, and do both corrupt and enslave all the more noble Faculties of it; the very Consciences and Minds of Men are defiled by them. If you see a Man whose Affections are set inordinately on any thing here below, it is easy to discern how he goes off from his native Worth, and debaseth himself therein.