250 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. sions and affections of the mind, as to the inordinate and violent pursuit of their inclinations, without any gracious renovationof them. Education, philosophy, or reason, long afflictions, spiritual light and gifts, have wrought this change. So Saul, upon his call to be King, became another man. Hereby persons, nat- urally passionate and furious, have been made sedate and moderate ; and those who have been sensual, have become temperate ; yea, and haters of religion, to be professors of it. All these things, and many more of the like nature, have proceeded from a change wrought upon the affections only; whilst the mind, will, and conscience, have been totally unsanctified, By this change, where it is alone, no man ever be- came spiritually minded. For whereas there are two parts of the depravation of our affections; that where- by they are turned off from God, and that whereby they inordinately cleave to other things; their change principally, if not only, respects the latter. They are brought into some order with respect to present things. The mind is not continually tossed up and down by them, as the waves of the sea, that are trou- bled; and cast up mire anddirt. They do not carry those in whom they are. into vicious, sensual actions, but allow them to make virtue in moderation, sobriety, temperance, fidelity, and usefulness in several ways, to be their design. And it is admirable to think what degrees of eminency in all sorts of moral virtues, upon this one principle of moderating the affections, even many among the heathens attained to. But as to their aversation from God and spiritual things, in the true spiritual notion ofthem, they are not cured by this change. At least this change may be, and yet this latter not be wrought.
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