Owen - BV4501 O84 1844

184 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS, though it was a grief and trouble to him. But this occasioned in hini afterwards those excellent medita- tions which he expresseth in the following verses. In the entrances of these occasions, if men would remem- ber the presence of Godwith them, in these places, with the holy severity of the eye that is upon them, it would put an awe upon their spirits, and embitter those jollities, whose relish.is given them by tempta- tion and sin. He doth neither walk, humbly nor cir- cumspectly, who being unnecessarily cast on the so- cietyof men, wicked or profane, (on such occasions wherein the ordinary sort of men give more than usu- al liberty to corrupt communications or excess in any kind,) doth not in his entrance of them call to mind the presence and all- seeing eye of God, and at his de- parture from them, consider whether his deportment hath been such as became that presence, and his being under that eye. But, alas ! pretences of business and necessary occasions, engagements of trade, carnal re- lations, and the common course of communication in the world, with a supposition that all sorts of society are allowed for diversion, have cast out the remem- brance of God from the minds of most, even then when men cannot be preserved from sin without it. This hath sullied the beauty of gospel conversation amongst the most, and left in very few anyprevalent evidence of being spiritually minded. Wherefore, as to themwho, either by theirvoluntary choice, or necessity of their occasions, do enter and engage promiscuously into all societies and companies, let them know assuredly, that if they awe not their hearts and spirits continually with the thoughts and apprehensions of the omnipresence and omniscience of God, that he is always with them, and his eyes al-

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