The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

They belong unto our receiving the Truth in the Love thereof. And Love respects the Goodness of the things themselves, and not merely the Truth of the Propositions wherein they are expressed. The other Thoughts are only the sense of the Mind as affected with Light and Truth, without any cordial Love unto the things themselves. (2.) They are accompanied with Complacency of Soul arising from Love, Experience, more or less, of the Power of them, and their suitableness unto the new Nature or Principle of Grace in them. For when our minds find that so indeed it is in us, as it is in the Word; that this is that which we would be more conformable unto; it gives a secret Complacency with satisfaction unto the soul. The other Thoughts which are only occasional, have none of these Concomitants or Effects, but are dry and barren, unless it be in a few words or transient Discourse. (3.) The former are means of spiritual growth. So some say the natural growth of Vegetables is not by insensible motion, but by Gusts and sensible eruptions of increase. These are both in spiritual Growth, and the later consists much in those thoughts which the Principle of the new Nature is excited unto by the Word in the latter.

They belong unto our receiving the Truth in the Love thereof. And Love respects the Goodness of the things themselves, and not meerly the Truth of the Propositions wherein they are expressed. The other Thoughts are only the sence of the Mind as affected with Light and Truth, without any cordial Love unto the things themselves. (2.) They are accompanied with Complacency of Soul arising from Love, Experience, more or less, of the Power of them, and their suitableness unto the new Nature or Principle of Grace in them. For when our minds find that so indeed it is in us, as it is in the Word; that this is that which we would be more conformable unto; it gives a secret Complacency with satisfaction unto the soul. The other Thoughts which are only occasional, have none of these Concomitants or Effects, but are dry and barren, unless it be in a few words or transient Dicourse. (3.) The former are means of spiritual growth. So some say the natural growth of Vegetables is not by insensible motion, but by Gusts and sensible eruptions of increase. These are both in spiritual Growth, and the later consists much in those thoughts which the Principle of the new Nature is excited unto by the Word in the latter.