A53719:766
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.
(4) The Unreadiness of Grace for its due and proper Exercise, is another thing which defeats us of the Benefit of holy Duties. The Seasons of them are come, sense of Duty carries men unto an Attendance unto them, and the performance of them. But when they should enter upon them, those Graces of Faith, Love, Fear, and Delight, wherein the Soul and Being of them do consist, are out of the way, unready for a due Exercise; so as that men take up and satisfy themselves with the mere outward Performance of them The Heart and Mind have been taken up with other things, due Preparation hath been wanting; men come unto them ⟨p. 334⟩with reeking Thoughts of earthly Occasions; and it is no easy matter in, or immediately out of, such a Frame, to stir up Grace unto a due Exercise. But herein lieth the very Life of being Spiritually Minded. The nature of it consists in the keeping and preserving all Grace in a Readiness for its Exercise as our Occasions require.
(4) The Unreadiness of Grace for its due and proper Excercise, is another thing which defeats us of the Benefit of holy Duties. The Seasons of them are come, sense of Duty carries men unto an Attendance unto them, and the performance of them. But when they should enter upon them, those Graces of Faith, Love, Fear, and Delight, wherein the Soul and Being of them do consist, are out of the way, unready for a due Exercise; so as that men take up and satisfy themselves with the meer outward Performance of them The Heart and Mind have been taken up with other things, due Preparation hath been wanting; men come unto them ⟨p. 334⟩with reaking Thoughts of earthly Occasions; and it is no easy matter in, or immediately out of, such a Frame, to stir up Grace unto a due Exercise. But herein lyeth the very Life of being Spiritually Minded. The nature of it consists in the keeping and preserving all Grace in a Readiness for its Exercise as our Occasions require.
And this is an effectual way whereby this Grace come to be Life and Peace. For they cannot be attained, they cannot be preserved, without such a constancy and Spirituality in all holy Duties, as we shall never arrive at, unless we are Spiritually Minded.