OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 59 tution, who thrivethnot in theuse of the food of the new creature. But that which I fix upon withrespect unto the present inquiry, is, the frame that it preserves the soul in ; it will keep it humble, and upon a diligent watch, as unto its dispositions and actings. He who prays as he ought, will endeavor to live as he prays. This none can do who doth not with diligence keep his heart unto things he hath prayed about. To pray earnestly and live carelessly, is to proclaim that a man is not spiri- tually minded in his prayer. Hereby then, we shall know what is the spring of those spiritual thoughts, which our minds are exercised withal in our supplica- tions. If they are influenced unto a constant daily watch for the perservation of that frame of spirit, those dispositions and inclinations unto spiritual things which we pray for, they are from an internal spring of grace. If there be generally an unsuitableness in our minds unto what we seem to contend for in our prayers, the gift may be in exercise, but the grace is wanting. If a man be every day on the Exchange, and there talk diligentlyand earnestly about merchan- dise, and the affairs of trade ; but when he comes home thinks no more of them, because indeed he hath nothing to do, no interest in them, he may be a very poor, man, notwithstanding his pretences : and he may be spiritually very poor, who is on occasions fervent in prayer, if, when he retires unto himself, he is not care- ful and diligent about the matter of it 4. When spiritual affections, and due preparation of heart unto the duty, excite and animate the gift of prayer, and not the gift make impressions on the affec- tions; then are we spiritually minded therein. Gifts are servants, not rulers, in the mind; are bestowed on us to be serviceable unto grace; not to lead it, but to 1
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