or S1'IRIT11AL MINDEDNESS. 213 even bythe means of necessary refreshment, men think themselves meet to treat with God about the great con- cernments of his glory, and their own souls. This is that which God condemneth by the prophet, Mal. i. 8. `And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil 2 And if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil Offer it now unto thy governor, will he bepleased with thee, or accept thy personP Both the law of nature, and all the laws of holy institutions, require that we should serve God with the best that we have, as all the fat of the inwards was to be offered in sacrifice. And shall we think to offer that time to God, wherein we are unmeet to appear before an earthly ruler ? Yet such, in my account, are the seasons, especially the evening seasons, that most men choose for the duties of their holy worship, And you may do well to con- sider, that beyond the day and time which he hath ta- ken to himself by an everlasting law, how little of the choice of your timeyou have offered to God as a free will offering, that you maybe excited to future dili- gence. If, therefore, you seriously intend this duty, choose the seasons for it wherein you are the most fit, when even the natural vigor of your spirits is most free and active. Possibly some will say, this may be such a time as when the occasions of the world call most earnestly for your attendance to them. I say, that is the season I would recommend. And if you can conquer your minds to redeem it for God_ at that rate, your endeavors in it will be prosperous. How- ever, trust not to times that will offer themselves. Take them not up at hazard. Let the time itself be a free will offering to God, taken from the top- of the heap, or the choicest part of your useful time. (2.) Preparation of mind to a due reverence of God
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