This, therefore, is not that which I invite the common sort of believers unto. Let them that are able and free re- ceive it. The generality of Christians have lawful callings, employments, and businesses, which ordinarily they ought to abide in. That they also may live unto God in their oc- casions, they may do well to consider two things.
1. Industry in men's callings is a thing in itself very commendable. If in nothing else, it hath an advantage
BEING SPIRITUALLY MINDED. 365
herein, that it is a means to preserve men from those excesses in lust and riot, which otherwise they are apt to run into. And if you consider the two sorts of men whereinto the ge- nerahty of mankind are distributed, namely, of them who are industrious in their affairs, and those who spend their time, so far as they are able, in idleness and pleasure, the former sort are far more amiable and desirable. Howbeit it is ca- pable of being greatly abused. Earthly mindedness, covet- ousness, devouring things holy as to times and seasons of duty, usefulness, and the like pernicious vices do invade and possess the minds of men. There is no lawful calling that doth absolutely exclude this grace of being spiritually minded in them that are engaged in it, nor any that doth include it. Men may be in the meanest of lawful callings and be so, and men may be in the best and highest and not be so. Consider the calling of the ministry: the work and duty of it calls on those that are employed in it, to have their minds and thoughts conversant about spiritual and heavenly things. They are to study about them, to meditate on them, to com- mit them to memory, to speak them out unto others. It will be said. Surely such men must needs be spiritually minded. If they go no farther than what is mentioned, I say they must needs be so, as printers must needs be learned, who are continu- ally conversant about letters. A man may with great industry engage himself in these things, and yet his mind be most remote from being spiritual. The event doth declare that it may be so, and the reasons of it are manifest. It requires is much, if not more watchfulness, more care, more humi- lity, for a minister to be spiritually minded in the discharge of his calling, than to any sort of men in theirs. And that, as for other reasons, so because the commonness of the exer- cise of such thoughts, with their design upon others in their expression, will take off their power and efficacy. And he will have little benefit by his own ministry, who endeavours not in the first place, an experience in his own heart of the power of the truths which he doth teach unto others. And there is evi- dently as great a failing herein among us as among any other sort of Christians, as every occasion of trial doth demonstrate. 2. Although industry in any honest calling be allow- able, yet unless men labour to be spiritually minded in the exercise of that industry, they have neither life nor peace.
366 THE GRACE AXD DUTY OF
Hereunto all the things before-mentioned, are necessary ; I know not how any of them can be abated, yea, more is re- quired than is expressed in them. If you burn this roll, another must be written, and many like things must be added unto it. And the objection from the expense of time in the observance of them, is of no force. For a man may do as much work whilst he is spiritually minded, as whilst he is carnal. Spiritual thoughts will no more hinder you in your callings than those that are vain and earthly, which all sorts of men can find leisure for in the midst of their em- ployments. If you have filled a vessel with chaff, yet you may pour into it a great deal of water, which will be con- tained in the same space and vessel. And if it be necessary that you should take in much of the chaff of the world into your minds, yet are they capable of such measures of grace as shall preserve them sincere unto God.
Fifthly, This frame will never be preserved, nor the du- ties mentioned be ever performed in a due manner, unless we dedicate some part of our time peculiarly unto them. I speak unto them only concerning whom I suppose that they do daily set apart some portion of time unto holy duties, as prayer and reading of the word, and they find by experience that it succeeds well with them. For the most part, if they lose their seasons, they lose their duties. For some have complained, that the urgency of business, and multiplicity of occasions driving them at first from the fixed time of their duties, hath brought them into a course of neglecting duty itself. Wherefore it is our wisdom to set apart constantly some part of our time, unto the exercise of our thoughts about spiritual things in the way of meditation. And I shall close this discourse with some directions in this par- ticular, unto them who complain of their disability for the discharge of this duty.
1. Choose and separate a fit lime or season, a time of freedom from other occasions and diversions. And because it is our duty to redeem time with respect unto holy duties, such a season may be the more useful, the more the purchase of it stands us in. We are not at any time to serve God with what costs us nought, nor with any time that comes within the same rule. If we will allow only the refuse of our time unto this duty, when we have nothing else to do, and