74 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. all from self, and the old ambition to be as God, to dispose of all things as we think meet. I know no greater misery or punishment in this world, than the debasing of our nature to such vain imaginations ; and a perfect freedom.from them is a part of the blessed- ness of heaven. It is not my present work to show how sinful they are; let them be esteemed only fruit- less, foolish, vain and ludicrous. But let men examine themselves, what number ofthese vain, useless thoughts, night and day, do rove up and down in their minds. If now it be apprehended too severe, that men's thoughts of spiritual things should exceed them that are employed about their lawful callings, let them consider what proportion they bear to those which are alto- gether vain and useless. Donot many give more time to them, than they do to holy meditations, without an endeavor to mortify the one, or to stir up and enliven the other. Are they not more wonted to their sea- sons, than holy thoughts are 1. And shall we suppose that those with whom it is so, are spiritually minded l 3. There are thoughts that are formally evil; they are so in their nature, being corrupt contrivances to fulfil the desires of the flesh in the lusts thereof. These also will attempt the minds of believers. But they are always looked on as professed enemies to the soul, and are watched against. I shall not therefore make any comparison between them and spiritual thoughts, for they abound only in them that are car- nallyminded. 2. The second rule to this purpose is, that wewould consider, whether thoughts of spiritual things do con- stantly take possessionof their proper seasons. There are some times and seasons in the course of men's lives, wherein they retire themselves unto their own
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