The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

(4) Their Affections are transient, unstable, vanishing, as unto their Exercise and Operations. They are on and off, now pleased, and anon displeased; earnest for a little while, and then cold and indifferent. Hence the things which they seem to effect, have no transforming Efficacy upon their Souls; they dwell not in them, in their Power.

But where our Affections unto Spiritual things are sincere, where they are the true genuine Application of the Soul, and adherence unto them, they are firm and stable; Love and Delight are kept up unto such a constant Exercise, as renders them immovable, this is that which we are exhorted unto, 1 Cor. 15, 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the Work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. Transient Affections with their occasional Operations, deceive Multitudes, oft times they are pregnant in their Actings, as those that are most sincere: and many Effects in Joys, in Mournings, in Complaints, they will produce, especially when excited by any outward Affliction, Sickness, and the like. But their Goodness is like the early Cloud, or morning Dew. Let none therefore please themselves with the Operations of transient Affections with respect unto Spiritual things, be they never so urgent, or so pleasant, or so frequent in their returns; those that are sincere, are at all times firm and stable.

But where our Affections unto Spiritual things are sincere, where they are the true genuine Application of the Soul, and adherence unto them, they are firm and stable; Love and Delight are kept up unto such a constant Exercise, as renders them immoveable, this is that which we are exhorted unto, 1 Cor. 15, 58. Therefore my beloved Brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. Transient Affections with their occasional Operations, deceive Multitudes, oft times they are pregnant in their Actings, as those that are most sincere: and many Effects in Joys, in Mournings, in Complaints, they will produce, especially when excited by any outward Affliction, Sickness, and the like. But their Goodness is like the early Cloud, or morning Dew. Let none therefore please themselves with the Operations of transient Affections with respect unto Spiritual things, be they never so urgent, or so pleasant, or so frequent in their returns; those that are sincere, are at all times firm and stable.