Owen - BV4501 O84 1844

22 OP SPIRITUAL IVÍINDEDNESS. ing spiritually minded as unto its nature or essence. Where a man, as unto the substance and being of the grace and duty intended, is not spiritually minded, he is carnallyminded; that is, under the power of death, spiritual, and obnoxious unto death eternal. This is the principal foundationwe proceed upon ; whence we demonstrate the indispensable necessity of the frame of mind inquired after. There are two ways whereinmen are earthly minded. The one is absolute, when the love of earthly things is wholly predominant in the mind. This is not for - mally and properly to be carnally minded, which is of a larger extent. The one denomination is from the root and principle, namely, the flesh ; the other from 11íe object, or the things of the earth. The latter is a branch from the former, as its root. To be earthly minded, is an operation and effect of the carnal mind in one especial way and instance. And it is exclusive of life and salvation, as the carnal mind itself, Phil. 3. 19. 1 Sohn 2. 16. This therefore is opposed unto the being of spiritual mindedness, no less than to be car - nallyminded is. When there is in any love of earthly things that is predominant, whence a person maybe rightly denominated earthly minded, he is not, nor can be, spiritually minded at all; he bath no interest in the frame of heart and spirit intended thereby. And thus it is evidently with the greatest part of them who are called Christians in the world, let them pre- tend what they will to the contrary. Again; there is a being earthly minded, which con- sists in an inordinate affection unto the things of this world. It is that which is sinful, which ought to be mortified, yetis it not absolutely inconsistent with the substance and being of thegrace inquired after. Some

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