244 OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. ligion, like Paul in his Pharisaism, may we not, will some say or think, find acceptance with God, though our hearts cleave inordinately to the things of this world 2 I say, God hath peremptorily determined the contrary ; and if other arguments will not prevail with us, he leaves us at last to this, go love the world and the things of it, but know assuredly you do it to the eternal loss of your souls. 1 John ii. 15. Jam. 4. These few instances have I given of the arguments and motives whereby God is pleased to deter us from fixing our affections on things here below. And they are most of them such only as he maketh use of in the administration of his providence. There are two other heads of things that offer themselves to our considera- tion. First. The ways, means, arguings, and enticements,, which the world makes use of to draw, keep, and se -. cure the affections of then to itself,. Secondly. The secret, powerful efficacy of grace,, in taking off the heart from these things, turning and drawing it to God, with the arguments and motives that the Holy Spirit maketh use of, in and by the word, to this end ; and whereinwe must show what is the act of conquering grace, wherein the heart is finally prevailed on to choose and adhere to God in love im- mutable. But these things cannot be handled in any measure according to their nature and importance, without such length of discourse, as I cannot here di- vert to. I shall therefore proceed to that which is the proper and peculiar subject before us.
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