or SFIItITUAL N[INDEDNESS. on pernicious dangers. Such a soul alone is tractable and pliable to all intimations of God's will. All others are stubborn and obstinate, stout hearted_, and far from righteousness. And when the world hath the hand on our affections, it turns the mind, with the whole industry of the soul, to its interest andconcerns. And it is in vain to contend with any thing that hath the power of our affections in its disposal, it will pre. vail at last. On all these considerations, it is of the highest im- portance to consider aright how things are stated in our affections, and what is the prevailing bent of them. Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the counte- nance of his friend, saith the wise man, Prov. xxvii. 17. Every man hath his edge, which may be sharpen- ed by outward helps and advantages : the predominant inclination of a man's affections is his edge. Accord- ing as that is set, so he cutteth and works ; that way he is sharp and keen, but blunt to all other things. Now because it must be, that our affections are either spiritual or earthly in a prevailing degree ; that either God hath our hearts, or the world; that our edge is towards heaven, or towards things here below; before I come to give an account of the nature and operations of spiritual affections, I shall consider and - propose some of these arguments and motives which God is pleased to make use of, to call off our affec- tions from the desirable things of this world : for as they are weighty and cogent, such as cannot he neg- lected without the greatest contempt of divine wis- dom and goodness, so they serve to press and enforce those arguments and motives that are proposed to us, to set our affections on things that are above, which is to be spiritually minded.
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