The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

And it is almost incredible how apt we are to be beguiled by the specious Pretences wherewith we are solicited.

And it is almost incredible how apt we are to be beguiled by the specious Pretences wherewith we are sollicited.

That our Affections in the Degree treated about, suppose of Love unto the World and the things of it, are lawful and allowable, is one of the Sophisms and Artifices wherewith many are deluded. Hereon, provided they run not out into scandalous Excesses, they approve of themselves in such a Worldly Frame of Mind, and acting according unto it, as renders them fruitless, useless, senseless, and is inconsistent with that prevailing adherence of Affections unto Spiritual things, that ought to be in us. Others are deluded by a pretence, that it is in one Instance only they would be spared, it is but this or that Object, they would give out the Embraces of their Affections unto, in all other things they will be entire for God; the Vanity of which Pretence we have spoken unto before. Others are ruined by giving place unto their Solicitations, with respect unto any one Affection whatever. As suppose it be that of Fear. In times of danger for Profession, multitudes have lost all their Affections unto Spiritual things, through a Fear of losing that which is temporal, as their Lives, their Liberties, their Goods, and the like. When, once Satan or the World have gotten as it were, the mastery of this Affection, or a prevalent Interest in it, they will not fail to draw all others into a defection from Christ and the Gospel. He that loves his Life shall lose it.

That our Affections in the Degree treated about, suppose of Love unto the World and the things of it, are lawful and allowable, is one of the Sophismes and Artifices wherewith many are deluded. Hereon, provided they run not out into scandalous Excesses, they approve of themselves in such a Worldly Frame of Mind, and acting according unto it, as renders them fruitless, useless, senseless, and is inconsistent with that prevailing adherence of Affections unto Spiritual things, that ought to be in us. Others are deluded by a pretence, that it is in one Instance only they would be spared, it is but this or that Object, they would give out the Embraces of thier Affections unto, in all other things they will be entire for God; the Vanity of which Pretence we have spoken unto before. Others are ruined by giving place unto their Solicitations, with respect unto any one Affection whatever. As suppose it be that of Fear. In times of danger for Profession, multitudes have lost all thier Affections unto Spiritual things, through a Fear of losing that which is temporal, as their Lives, their Liberties, thier Goods, and the like. When, once Satan or the World have gotten as it were, the mastery of this Affection, or a prevalent Interest in it, they will not fail to draw all others into a defection from Christ and the Gospel. He that loves his Life shall lose it.