2b OP SPÏRITUÁL PIINDPDNPS8. they are unregenerate, they are not born of God, they please him not, nor can do so, but must perish for ever. But those who are spiritually minded, are born of God, do live unto him, and shall come to the en- joyment of him. Hereon depends the trial and de- termination of what state we do belong unto. 2. Where any are spiritually minded, there, and there alone, is life and peac',e. What these are, wherein they do consist, what is their excellency and pre - eminence above all things in this world, how they are the effects and consequents of our being spiritually minded, shall be afterwards declared. There is neither of these considerations, but is suffi- cient to demonstrate of how great concernment unto us it is to be spiritually minded, and diligently to inquire whether we are so or not. It will therefore be no small advantage unto us, to have our souls and consciences always affected with, and in due subjection unto, the power of this truth; namely, that to be spirituallyminded is life and peace ; whence it will follow, that whatever we may think otherwise, if we are not so, we have neither of them, neither life nor peace. It will, I say, be of use unto us, if we are affected, with the power of it. For many greatly deceive themselves in hearing the word. They admit of sacred truths in their understanding, and as- sent unto them ; but take not in the power of them on their consciences, nor strictly judge of their state and conditionby them, which proves their ruin. For hereby they seem to themselves to . believe that, whereof in truth they believe not one syllable as they ought. They hear it, they understand it in the notion of it, they assent unto it, at least they do not contradict it ; yea, they commend it oftentimes, and approve of
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