The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

(3) It is that whereby our Hearts and Minds are taken off from the World, and all inordinate Love thereunto. ⟨p. 331⟩Where this is in prevalent Degree, there is neither Life, nor Peace. And every excess in it, both weakens Spiritual Life, and disturbs, yea, destroys all solid Spiritual Peace. I have occasionally spoken unto it before, as also the way whereby our minding of the things that are above in a due manner, doth deliver and preserve our Souls from the Snares of it. And if we diligently examine our selves, we shall find, that in our inordinate Affections, and cleaving unto these things, the principal Causes why we thrive no more in the power of Spiritual Life, and whence we meet with so many Disquietments and Dejections of Spirit unto the disturbance of our Peace and Rest in God, is from hence. For there is no Grace which is not impaired by it in its nature, or not obstructed by it in its Exercise. Wherefore, to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace, because it subdues and expels that inordinate Love unto present things, which is destructive of them both, and inconsistent with them.

(3) It is that whereby our Hearts and Minds are taken off from the World, and all inordinate Love thereunto. ⟨p. 331⟩Where this is in prevalent Degree, there is neither Life, nor Peace. And every excess in it, both weakens Spiritual Life, and disturbs, yea, destroys all solid Spiritual Peace. I have occasionally spoken unto it before, as also the way whereby our minding of the things that are above in a due manner, doth deliver and preserve our Souls from the Snares of it. And if we diligently examine our selves, we shall find, that in our inordinate Affections, and cleaving unto these things, the principal Causes why we thrive no more in the power of Spiritual Life, and whence we meet with so many Disquietments and Dejections of Spirit unto the disturbance of our Prace and Rest in God, is from hence. For there is no Grace which is not impaired by it in its nature, or not obstructed by it in its Exercise. Wherefore, to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace, because it subdues and expells that inordinate Love unto present things, which is destructive of them both, and inconsistent with them.