The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

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.

But the fixing of Spiritual Affections on Spiritual Objects is perfective of our present State and Condition. Not that we can attain Perfection by it; but that therein our Souls are in a Progress towards Perfection. This may be granted; look how much vile Affections fixed on, and furiously pursuing things carnal and sensual, do debase our Natures beneath its rational Constitution, and make it degenerate into Bestiality; so much Spiritual Affections fixed on, and cleaving unto things Spiritual and Heavenly, do exalt our Nature above its mere natural Capacity, making an approach unto the State of Angels, and of Just men made perfect. And as brutish Affections when they have the Reins, as they say, on their Necks, and are pursued with Delight and Greediness, do darken the Mind, and disturb all the rational Powers of the Soul, (for Whoredom, and Wine, and new-Wine do take away the Heart, as the Prophet speaks and Wickedness altereth the Understanding) So holy Affections