OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 83 your minds; which will never be done without many thoughts about them. Unless it be so with you, God will be greatly displeased at the neglect of his coming and call, now it is so plain and articulate. Fear the woful dooms recorded, Prov. i. 25-28. Isa. lvi. 12. Chap. 66. 4. to this purpose. And if any calamity, public or private, do overtake you under a neglect of these duties, you will be wofully surprised, and not know which way to turn for relief. This therefore is the time and season wherein you may have an especial trial and experiment whether you be spiritually minded or not. It is the wisdom of faith to excite and draw forth grace into exercise according to present occa- sions. If this grace be habitually resident in you, it will put itself forth in many thoughts about these present duties. But, alas ! for the most part, men are apt to walk contrary to God in these things, as the wisdom of the flesh is contrary to him in all things. A great instance we have with respect to these duties, espe- cially the latter of them. For, 1, who almost makes a dilligent search into, and trial of, his heart and ways, with respect to the procuring causes of the dis- pleasure and judgments of God'? Generally, when the tokens and evidences of them most abound, the world is full of outrageous provoking sins. These visibly proclaim themselves to be the causes of ' the coming of the wrath of God on the children of disobe- dience.' Hence most men are apt to cast the whole reason of present judgments upon them, and put it wholly from themselves. Hence commonly there is never less of self-examination, than when it is called for in a peculiar manner. But, as I will not deny, but that open daring sins of the world are the procuring
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