OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 207 desires, with moderation in our endeavors after the needful things of it, are also necessaryhereunto ; yea, to that degree, that without them no man can in any sense be said to be spiritually minded. For otherwise our affections cannot be sopreservedunto the power of grace, as that spiritual things may be always servicea- ble to us. Some, it may be, will say, that ' if all these things are required thereunto, it will take up a man's whole life and time to be spiritually minded. They hope they may attain it \at an easier rate, and not forget all other advantages and sweetnesses of life, which a strict observation of these things would cast them upon.' I answer ; that however it may prove a hard say- ing to some, yet I must say it, and my'heart would re- proach me if I should not say, that if the principal part of our time be not spent about these things, what- ever we suppose, we have ;indeed neither life nor peace. The first fruits of all were to be offered to God; and in sacrifices he required the blood, and the fat of the inwards. If the best be not his, he will have nothing. It is so as to our time. Tell me, Ipray you, how you can spendyour time and your lives better, or to better. purpose ; and I shall say, Go on and prosper. I am sure some spend so much of their time so much worse, as it is a shame to see it. Do you think you came into this world to spend your whole time and strength in your employments, your trades, your pleasures, to the satisfaction of the will of the flesh and of the mind l Have you time enough to eat, to drink, to sleep, to talk unprofitably, it may be corrupt- ly, in all sórts of unnecessary societies, but have not 'enough to live to God, in the very essentials of that
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