Owen - BV4501 O84 1844

OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 259 cleave to himwith purpose of heart, to have the heart circumcised to love him, is to have all our affections renewed and sanctified, without whichwe can .do none of them. When it is otherwise, there is a double heart, an heart, and a heart which he abhors ; Their heart is divided, now shall they be found faulty. Ho- sea x. 2. So it is in the other change mentioned. Whatever is or may be wrought upon our affections when they are not spiritually renewed ; that very change, as to the degree of it, is not universal; -it doth not affect the whole mind in all its powers and affections : until a vital prevailing principle and habit of grace is im- planted in the soul, sin will not only radically adhere to all the faculties, powers, and affections,; but it will, under any change that may befall them, refer the rule and dominion in some of them to itself So was it with the young man that came to our Lord Jesus Christ, toknow what he should do to obtain eternal life. Mark x. 17-22. Thus there are many who in other things are reduc- ed to moderation, sobriety and temperance, yet there remaineth in themrth.e love of money, in a predomi- nant degree, which to them is the root of all evil, as the apostle speaks ; some seem to be religious but they bridle not their tongues ; through anger, envy, hatred, and the like, their religion is vain. The most of men, in their several ways of profes- sion, pretend not only to religion, but to zeal in it; yet set no bounds to their affections to earthly enjoy- ments. Some of old, who had most eminently in all other things subdued their passions and affections, were the greatest enemies to, and persecutors of, the gospel.

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