OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 87 fold. (1.) That which is real, as Achan saw the wedge of gold, and coveted it. Josh, vii. 21. Prov. xxii. 3L Against this is the prayer of the Psalmist, turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and the covenant of Job, chap. xxxi 1. (2.) Imaginary, when the imagina- tion, being tinted or infected by lust, continually repre- sents the pleasures of sin and the actings of it unto the mind. ' Herein do men make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof.' Rom. xiii. 14.. (3.) From the suggestions of satan, who useth all his wiles and artifices to stir up thoughts about that sin where- unto the temptation leads; and temptation seldom fails of its end, when it can stir up a multitude of unprofi- table thoughts about its object. For when temptations multiply thoughts about sin, proceeding from some or all of these causes, and the mind hath wonted itself to give thementertainment, those in whom they are, want nothing but opportunities and occasions, taking off the power of outward restraints, for the commission of actual sin. When men have devised mischief, they practise it when it is in the power of their hand. Mic. ii. 1. "It is no way safe to advise such persons to have many thoughts about their temptations i they will all turn to their disadvantage. I speak to them only, unto whom their temptations are their affliction and their burden. And such per- sons also must be very careful how they suffer their thoughts to be exercised about the matter of their temptation, lest it be a snare, and be too hard for them. Men maybegin their thoughts of any object with abhor- rence and detestation, and if it be in case of tempta- tion, end them in complacency and approbation. The deceitfulness of sin lays hold on something or other that lusts in the mind, stays upon with delectation, and
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