OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 251 Again, this alteration doth not turn the course or stream of men's affections, it doth not change the na- ture of them. They are the same in their spring and fountain as ever they were, only they are habituated to another course than what of themselves they are in- clined to. Youmay take a young whelp of the most fierce and savage creatures, as of a tiger, or a wolf, and by custom or usage, make it as tame and harmless as any domestic creature, a dog, or the like. But al- though it may be turned to quite another way or course of acting than what it was of itself inclined to, yet its nature is not changed. And, therefore, fre- quently on occasion, opportunity, or provocation, it will fall into its own savage inclination; and having tasted of the blood of creatures, it will never be re- claimed. So is it with the depravedaffections of men with respect to their change ; their streams are turned, they are habituated to .a new course ; their nature is not altered, at least not from rational to spiritual, from earthly to heavenly. Yet this is that which was most beautiful and desirable in nature, the glory of it, and the utmost of its attainments. He who has by any means proceeded to such a moderation of his af- fections, as to render him kind, benign, patient, useful, preferring public good before private,; ordinate and temperate in all things, will rise up injudgment against those who, professing themselves to be under the con- duct of the light of grace, do yet, by being morose, angry, selfish, worldly, manifest that their affections are not subdued by the power of that grace. Where- fore, that we maybe spiritually minded, there is yet another work upon our affections required, which is their internal renovation, whereby not only the course of their actings is changed, but their nature is alter-
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