OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 77 when the morning is light, they practise it; walking all day, on all occasions, suitably unto their devices and imaginations of the night. Many will have cause to complain to eternity, of those leisure times which might have been improved for their advantage to eter- nal blessedness. If we intend therefore to maintain a title to this grace of being spiritually minded, if we would have any evidence of it in ourselves, without which we can have none of life or peace, and what wepretend thereof is but an effect of security, we must endeavor to pre- serve the claim and right of spiritual thoughts to such seasons, and actually put them in possession of them. 3. Consider how we are affected withour disappoint- ments about these seasons. Have we by negligence, by temptations; have we by occasional diversions or affairs of life, been taken off from thoughts of God, of Christ, of heavenly things, when we ought to have been engaged in them ; how are we affected with a re- view hereof l A carnal mind is well enough satisfied with the omission of any duty, so it have the pretence of a necessary occasion. If it bath lost a temporal advantage, through attendance to a spiritual duty, it will deeply reflect on itself, and it may be, like the duty, the worse afterwards. But a gracious soul, one that is truly spiritually minded, will mourn under a re- view of such omissions, and by every one of them is stirred up to more watchfulness for the future. Alas, will it say, how little have I been with Christ this day ! How much time hath passed me without a thought of him ! How foolish was I, to be wanting to such or such an opportunity ! I am in arrears to myself, and have no rest until I be satisfied. I say, if indeed we are spiritually minded, we will 7*
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