OT SPIRITUAL MINDÈDNES8. 233 these seventy years, consider how long it is before men begin to have a taste or relish of the things of this life ; how many things fall in cross, to make us weary of them before the end of our days; how few among us, not one of a thousand, attain that age ; what is, the uncertainty of all men living, as to the continuance of their lives to the next day ; and we shall see that the holy, wise God, hath left no such season for their enjoyment, as might put a value upon them. And when, on the other hand,' it is remember- ed, that this man, who is of such short continuance in this world, is yet made for eternity, eternal blessed- ness or misery, which state depends wholly on his in- terest in things above, and setting his affections on them, they must forfeit all their reason, as well as bid defiance to the grace of God, who gives them up for things below. Moreover, God bath openly and fully declared the danger that is in these things, as to their enjoyment and use; and what multitudes of souls miscarry, by an inordinate adherence to them ! For they are the matter of those temptations, whereby 'the souls of men are ruined forever ; the fuel that supplies the fire of their lusts, until they are consumed by it., Men, under the power of spiritual convictions, fall not into sin, fail not eternally, but by the means of temptation. That is the mire wherein this rush doth grow. For others who live and die in the madness and wildness of nature, without any restraint in their minds from the power of convictions, they need no external temptations, but only opportunities to exert their lusts. But for those who by any means are con- vinced of sin, 'righteousness, and judgment, so as to design the ordering of their lives, with respect to the 20*
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