Ìd OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. ings and lawful occasions. These are numberless and endless; especially among a sort of men who rise early and go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulness, or are particularly industrious and diligent in their ways. These thoughts men approve themselves in, and judge them their duty, as they are in their proper place and measure. But no heart can conceive the multitude of these thoughts, which, partly in contri- vances, partly in converse, are engaged and spent about these things. And the more men are immersed in them, the more do themselves and others esteem them diligent and praiseworthy. And there are some who have neither necessity nor occasion to be en- gaged much in the duties of any especial calling, who yet by their words and actions declare themselves to be confined almost in their thoughts to themselves, their relations, their children, and their self concerns; which, though most of them are very impertinent, yet they justify themselves in them. All sorts may do well to examine what proportion their thoughts of spiri- tual things bear to those of other things. I fear with most, it will be found to be very small, with many, next to none at all. What evidence then can they have that are spiritually minded, that their principal interest lies in things above l Perhaps it will be asked, whether it be necessary that men should think as much and as often about things spiritual and heavenly, as they do about the lawful affairs of their callings. I say more, and more often, if we are what we profess ourselves to be. Generally, it is the best sort of men, as to the things of God and man, who are busied in their callings, some of one sort, some of another. But even among the best of these, many will continually spend the strength of their minds and
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