OP SI'IIi.ITUti.L MINDE'DNESS. 157 tinually conversant in their minds about earthly things. Some things impose themselves on them under the no- tion of duty : they belong to their callings, they must- be attended to. Some are suggested to their minds from daily occasions and occurrences. Common con- verse in the world engageth men into no other but worldly thoughts ; love and desire of earthly things, their enjoyment and increase, exhaust the vigor of their spirits all the day long, In the midst of a mul- titude of thoughts arising from these and the like oc- casions, whilst their hearts and heads are reeking with the steam of them, many fall immediately in their sea- sons to the performance of holy duties. Those times may suffice for thoughts of God, but notwithstanding such duties, what through the want of a duepreparation for them, what through the fulness of their minds and affections with other things, and what through a neglect of exercising grace in them, it may be said compara= tively, that God is not in all their thoughts. I pray God, that this, at least as to some degrees of it, benot the condition of many amongus; I speak not now of men who visibly and openly live in sin, pro- fane in their principles, and profligate in their lives. The prayers of such persons are an abomination to the Lord; neither have they ever any thoughts of him, which he doth accept: but I speak of them who are sober in their lives, industrious in their callings, andnot openly negligent about the outward duties of religion. Such men are apt to approve of themselves, and others also to speak well of them ; for these things are in themselves commendable and praise-worthy. But if they are traced home, it will be found, as to many of them, that God is not in all their thoughts as he ought to be. Their earthly conversation, their vain commu- 14
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