The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

In every darkness, in every damp of Spirit, under every apprehension of Dreadness, or the withdrawing of the sense of Divine Love, the Soul knoweth what it wants, and what it doth desire. Oh! saith such an one, that it were now with me as in former days; I know he who then gave me such refreshing Tastes of his own Goodness, who made every thing of himself sweet and pleasant unto me, can renew this work of his Grace towards me; he can give me a new Spiritual Appetite and Relish, and he can make all Spiritual things Savoury unto me again.

In every darkness, in every damp of Spirit, under every apprehension of Dreadness, or the withdrawing of the sense of Divine Love, the Soul knoweth what it wants, and what it doth desire. Oh! saith such an one, that it were now with me as in former dayes; I know he who then gave me such refreshing Tasts of his own Goodness, who made every thing of himself sweet and pleasant unto me, can renew this work of his Grace towards me; he can give me a new Spiritual Appetite and Relish, and he can make all Spiritual things Savoury unto me again.

As a man under a Languishing Sickness, or when he is chastened with strong pain, so as that his Soul abhorreth Bread, and his daily Meat; can remember what Appetite he had, with what Gust and Relish he was wont to take in ⟨p. 314⟩his Food in the days of his Health, which makes him to know that there is such a Condition, and to desire a return unto it: So is it with a Sin sick Soul; It can find no relish, no gust, no sweetness in Spiritual things; He finds no Savour in the Bread of the Word, nor any refreshment in the Ordinances of the Gospel, which yet in themselves are daily Meat, a Feast of fat things, and of Wine well refined. Yet doth it remember former Days, when all these things were sweet unto him. And if he have any spark of Spiritual Life yet remaining, it will stir him up to seek with all diligence after a Recovery. How is it with you who are now under Spiritual Decays; who find no Taste nor Relish in Spiritual things; unto whom the Word is not savoury, nor other Ordinances powerful? call to mind how it hath been with you in former days; and what ye found in these things; if so be, saith the Apostle, that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. If you have not, it is to be feared that you have never yet had the least sincere Love unto Spiritual things; for where that is, it will give a Spiritual Relish of them. If you have, how is it you can give your selves Rest one Moment, without an Endeavour after the healing of your backsliding.