156 OF SEIRYTÑTAL MINDEDNESS. 2. There are those of whomalso it may be said, that God is not in all their thoughts, though they acknow- ledge his essence and being. For they are not prácti- eally influenced in any thing by the notions they have of him. Such is the person of whom this is affirmed, Psal. x. 4. He is one who, through pride and profli- gacy, with hardness in sin, regards not God in the rule of the world, ver. 4, 5, 11, 13. Such is the world filled with at this day1 as they are described, Tit. i. 16. " They profess that they know God, but in their works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate." They think, they live, they act in all things as if there were no God, at least as if they never thought of him with fear and reverence. And for the most part we need not seek far for evi- dences of their disregard of God ; the pride of their countenances testifies against them. Psal. x. 4. And if they are fbllowed further, cursed oaths, licentious- ness of life, and hatred of all that is good, will confirm and evidence the same. Such as these may own God in words, may be afraid of him in dangers, may attend outwardly on his worship; but they think not of God at all in a due manner ; he is not in all their thoughts. 3. There are yet less degrees of this disregard of God and forgetfulness of him, Some are so filled with thoughts of the world, and the occasions of life, that it is impossible they should think of God as they ought. For as the love of God and the love of the world in prevalent degrees are inconsistent, (for if a man loveth this world, how dwelleth the love of God in him i) so thoughts of God and of the world in the like degree, are inconsistent. This is the state of many, who yet would be esteemed spiritually minded. Theyare con-
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