A53719:759
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded
Phronemma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...Phronēma tou pneumatou, or, The grace and duty of being spiritually-minded declared and practically improved / by John Owen ...
London: printed by J.G. for Nathaniel Ponder, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
(1) Distractions.
(2) Despondencies.
(3) Weariness.
(4) Unreadiness of Grace for Exercise.
(1) Distraction of Mind and Thoughts, hath this evil Effect, which many complain of, few take the right way of Deliverance from. For this Evil will not be cured by ⟨p. 332⟩attendance unto any particular Directions, without a change of the whole Frame of our Minds. Nothing can give us Relief herein, but a prevalent Delight in being exercised about things Spiritual and Heavenly. For hence arise all our Distractions; the want of fixing our minds on Spiritual things with Delight, makes them obnoxious to be diverted from them on all occasions, yea to seek occasions for such Diversions. It is this frame alone, namely, of Spiritual Mindedness, that will give us this Delight. For thereby the Soul is transformed into the likeness of Spiritual things; so as that they are suited unto it, and pleasant unto our Affections. The mind and the things themselves are thereby so fitted unto each other, that on every occasion they are ready for mutual Embraces, and not easily drawn off by any cause or means Of the Distractions so complained of, yea, they will all be prevented hereby.