John Owen (1616-1683) is one of the most prominent theologians England has ever had. The Grace and Duty of being Spiritually Minded was published in 1681, after illness had caused Owen to spend time meditating upon the importance of spirituality.
'Of all the evils which I have seen in the days of my pilgrimage', he wrote, 'there is none as grievous as the public contempt of the principal mysteries of the Gospel among them that are called Christians.'
We offer here an abridgement of Owen's volume, in easier English.
Read Chapter 1 here