The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

If men are willing to deceive themselves, or to hide themselves from themselves, to walk with God at all per adventures, to leave all things at hazard, to put off all Trials unto that at the last day, and so never call themselves unto an account as unto the nature of their Duties in any particular Instance, it is no wonder, if they neither do nor can make any distinction in this matter as unto the true nature of their Thoughts in Spiritual Duties. Two things are required hereunto.

1. That we impartially and severely examine and try the Frames and actings of our minds in holy Duties by the Word of Truth; and thereon not be afraid to speak that plainly unto our Souls which the Word speaks unto us. This diligent search ought to respect our Principles, Aims, Ends, Actings, with the whole deportment of our Souls in every duty. See 2 Cor. 13.5. If a man receiveth much Money, and look only on the outward Form and Superscription, when he supposeth that he hath great store of currant Coin in Gold and Silver, he may have only heaps of Lead or Copper by him. But he that trades in it as the comfort and support of his natural life and condition, he will try what he receives both by the Balance and the Touch-stone, as the occasion requires, especially if it be in a time when much adulterated Coin is passant in the World. And if a man reckons on his Duties by Tale and Number, he may be utterly deceived; and be spiritually poor and a Bankrupt, when he esteems himself rich, increased in Goods and wanting nothing. Some Duties may appearingly hold in the Balance as to Weight, which will not hold it at the Touch-stone as to Worth. ⟨p. 30⟩Both means are to be used if we would not be mistaken in our Accounts. Thus God himself in the midst of a multitude of Duties calls the People to try and examine themselves whether or no they are such as have Faith and Grace in them, and so like to have acceptance with him. Isa. 58.2, 3, 4, 5.