80$ OE SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. every day. But it is not so without our folly and our sin. The folly that keeps many in this condition, consists herein : the generality of Christians are contented with their present measures, and design little more, than not to lose the ground they have gained. And a pernicious folly it is, that both ruins the glory of reli- gion, and deprives the souls of men of peace and con- solation. But so it is, men have some grounds of persuasion, or at least they hope, and suppose they have such grounds, that they are passed from death to life, that they are in a state of grace and acceptance with God. This state they will endeavor to preserve by a diligent performance of the duties it requireth, and the avoidance of such sins whereby they might make a forfeiture of it. But as for earnest watchful endeavors and diligence, to thrive in this state, to grow in grace, to be changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ, to press forward towards the mark of the high calling, and after perfection to lay hold on eternal life, to be more holy, more humble, more right- eous, more spiritually minded; tohave their affections more and more transformed into the likeness of things above. They are but few, that sincerely and diligently apply themselves to it, or to the means of these things. The measures which they have attained to, give satis- faction to the church, and reputation in theworld, that they are professors, and some so speak peace to their own souls. To be more holy and heavenly, to have their affections more taken up with the things above, they suppose somewhat inconsistent with their present occasions and affairs. By this means bath religion lost much of its glory, and the souls of men have been
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