The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

And to be Spiritually-Minded is this Life in a double Sense.

(1) In that it is the principal Effect and Fruit of that Life. The Life it self consists in the Infusion and Communication of a Principle of Life, that is of Faith and Obedience, unto all the Faculties and Powers of our Soul, enabling us to live unto God. To be Spiritually-Minded, which is a Grace whereunto many Duties do concur, and that not only as to the Actings of all Grace in them, but as unto the Degrees of their Exercise, cannot be this Life formally. But it is that wherein the Power of this Principle of Life, doth in the first and chiefest place put forth it self. All Actings of Grace, all Duties of Obedience internal and external, do proceed from this Spring and Fountain. Nothing of that kind is acceptable unto God, but what is influenced by it, and is an Effect of it, but it principally puts forth its Virtue and Efficacy, in rendering our Minds Spiritual, which if it effect not, it works not at all, that is, we are utterly destitute of it. The next and immediate Work of the Principle of Life in our Sanctification, is to renew the Mind, to make it Spiritual; and thereon gradually to carry it on unto that Degree which is here called, being Spiritually-Minded.

(1) In that it is the principal Effect and Fruit of that Life. The Life it self consists in the Infusion and Communication of a Principle of Life, that is of Faith and Obedience, unto all the Faculties and Powers of our Soul, enabling us to live unto God. To be Spiritually-Minded, which is a Grace whereunto many Duties do concur, and that not only as to the Actings of all Grace in them, but as unto the Degrees of their Exercise, cannot be this Life formally. But it is that wherein the Power of this Principle of Life, doth in the first and chiefest place put forth it self. All Actings of Grace, all Duties of Obedience internal and external, do proceed from this Spring and Fountain. Nothing of that kind is acceptable unto God, but what is influenced by it, and is an Effect of it, but it principally puts forth its Vertue and Efficacy, in rendring our Minds Spiritual, which if it effect not, it works not at all, that is, we are utterly destitute of it. The next and immediate Work of the Principle of Life in our Sanctification, is to renew the Mind, to make it Spiritual; and thereon gradually to carry it on unto that Degree which is here called, being Spiritually-Minded.