292 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. design of faith in them, and disesteem the chiefest benefit which is to be obtained by them, whence should zeal for them, delight in them, or diligence in attend- ance to them, arise 1 Let not any please themselves under the powers of such decays; they are indications of their inward frame, and those infallible. Such per- sons will grow cold, careless, and negligent, as to the duties of public worship ; they will put themselves neither to charge nor trouble about them ; every occa- sion of life diverts them, and finds ready entertainment in their minds ; and when they do attend upon them, it is with great indifferency and unconcernedness, Yet would they have it thought that all is still well within as ever it was, they have as good a respect to religion as any. But these things openly discover an ulcerous disease in the very souls of men, as evidently as if it were written on their foreheads ; whatever they pretend to the contrary, they are under the pow- er of woful decays from all due regard to spiritual and eternal things. And I would avoid the society of such persons, as those who carry an infectious disease about them, unless it were to help on their cure. Secondly. They come for supplies of internal, sanctifying, strengthening grace. This is the second great design of believers in their approaches to God in his worship. The want hereof, as to measures and degrees, they find in themselves, and are sensible of it. Yea, therein lies the great burden of the souls of be- lievers in this world. All that we do in the life of God may be referred to two heads. First. The observance of all duties of obedience. And, Secondly. The conflict with, and conquest over, temptations. About these things are we continually
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