384e OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. sense of guilt. No affections can abide in any sinful disorder, where the mind is so affected. This also gives sin an entrance to a distracting sense of guilt. But the sole cure hereof lies in this grace and duty. The like may be said of all other ways, means, and occasions of such incursions of sin. (3.) Weariness in and of spiritual duties, abates their tendency to the improvement of life and peace in us. This evil arisetli from the same cause with that of dis- tractionbefore mentioned. And it is ofttimes increased by the weakness and indispositions of the flesh, or of the outward man. Sometimes the spirit is willing, but, through the weakness of the flesh, it is disap- pointed. The principal cure hereof lies in that delight which spiritual mindedness gives to the soul in spirit- ual things. For where there is a constant delight in any thing, there will be no weariness ; at least, not such as shall hinder any from cleaving firmly to the things wherein he doth. Whilst therefore we are exercised in a delight in spiritual things, weariness cannot prevalently assault the mind. And it is the only relief against that weariness which proceeds from the indispositions of the outward man : for, as it will preserve the mind from attending too much to their solicitations, crying, spare thyself, by filling and pos- sessing the thoughts with other things; so it will offer an holy violence to the complaints of the flesh, silen- cing themwith a sense of, and delight in, holy duties. (4.) The unreadiness of grace for its due and proper exercise, is another thing which defeats us of the be- nefit of holy duties. The seasons of them are come ; sense of duty carries men to an attendance to them, and the performance of them. But when they should enter upon them, those graces of faith, love, fear, and
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