28S THE GUACE A>fD DUTY OF
that concernment in them, as are not consistent with their being spiritually minded. With some their relations, with some their enjoyments, with most both in conjunction, are an idol which they set up in their hearts, and secretly bow down unto. About these are their hopes and fears exer- cised, on them is their love, in them is their delight. They are wholly taken up with their own concerns, count all lost that is not spent on them, and all time mispent that is not engaged about them. Yet the things which they do, they judge to be good in themselves, their hearts do not condemn them as to the matter of them. The valuation they have of their relations and enjoyments they suppose to be lawful, within the bounds which they have assigned unto it. Their care about them is in their own minds but their duty. It is no easy matter, it requires much spiritual wisdom, to fix rio;ht boundaries unto our affections and their acting-s about earthly things. But let men plead and pretend what they please, I shall offer one rule in this case which will not fail. And this is, that when men are so confident in the good state and measure of their affections and their actings to- wards earthly things, as that they will oppose their engage- ments into them, unto known duties of religion, piety, and charity, they are gone into a sinful excess. Is there a state of the poor that requires their liberality and bounty ? you must excuse them, they have families to provide for ; when what is expected from them signifies nothing at all, as unto a due provision for their families, nor is what would lessen their inheritances or portions one penny in the issue. Are they called to an attendance on seasons of religious du- ties ? they are so full of business, that it is impossible for them to have leisure for any such occasions ; so by all ways declaring that they are under the power of a prevalent predominant affection unto earthly things. This fills all places with lifeless, sapless, useless professors, who approve themselves in their condition, whilst it is visibly unspiritual and withering.
The heart will have something whereon in a way of pre- eminence, it will fix itself and its affections. This in all its perpetual motions it seeks for rest and satisfaction in; and every man hath an edge, the edge of his affections is set one way or other, though it be more keen in some than others.
BEING SriUITUALLY MINDED. 289
And whereas all sorts of things, that the heart can fix upon or turn the edge of its affections unto, are distributed by the apostle into ' things above' and ' things beneath/ things heavenly and things earthly, if we have not such a view and. prospect of heavenly things as to cause our hearts to cleave unto them and delight in them, let us pretend what we will, it is impossible but that we shall be under the power of a predominant affection unto the things of this world.
Herein lies the great danger of multitudes at this pre- sent season. For let men profess what they will under the power of this frame, their eternal state is in hazard every moment. And persons are engaged in it in great variety of degrees. And we may cast them under two heads.
1. Some do not at all understand that things are amiss with them, or that they are much to be blamed. They plead, as was before observed, that they are all lawful things which their hearts do cleave unto, and which it is their duty to take care of and regard. May they not delight in their own relations, especially at such a time when others break and cancel all duties and bonds of relation in the service of and provision they make for their lusts ? May they not be care- ful in good and honest ways of diligence about the things of the world, when the most either lavish their time away in the pursuit of bestial lusts, or heap them up by deceit and op- pression ? May they not contrive for the promotion of their children in the world, to add the other hundred or thousand pounds unto their advancement, that they may be in as good condition as others, seeing he is worse than an infidel who provides not for his own family ? By such reasonings and secret thoughts do many justify themselves in their earthly mindedness. And so fixed they are in the approbation of themselves, that if you urge them to their duty, you shall loose their acquaintance, if they do not become your ene- mies for telling them the truth. Yea, they will avoid one duty that lieth not against their earthly interest, because it leads unto another. They will not engage in religious as- semblies. Or be constant unto their duty in them, for fear duties of charity should be required of them or expected from them : on what grounds such persons can satisfy ihrni- selves that they are spiritually minded, I know not. I shall leave only one rule with persons tliat are thus minded.
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290 THE GRACE AND DUTY OF
Where our love unto the world, hath prevailed by its rea- sonings, pleas, and pretences, to take away our fear and jea- lousy over our own hearts, lest we should inordinately love it, there it is assuredly predominant in us.