438 The NATURE and P R the mind, which is the fpring of Gofpel obedience, col. iii. 2. Set your 4ffetlions on things aboyé, not on things on the earth, or fet ypur minds : as if lie had faid, On both together you cannot be fet or fixed, fo as principally and chiefly to mind them both. And the affections to the one and the other, proceeding from thefe different principles of mind- ing the one and the other, are oppofed as directly inconiftent, a John ii. i g. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any avian love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And adings a courfe fuitable unto thefe affections are propofed alto as contrary; Tou cannot ferve God and mammon. Thefe are two mailers whom no man can ferve at the faine timé, to the fatisfadion of both. Every inordinate minding, then, of earthly things, is oppofed unto that frame wherein our minds ought to be fixed on God and his grace in a courfe of gofpel obedience. Several ways there are whereby the deceitfulnefs of fin draws off the mind in this particular, but the chief of them is by preffing thefe things on the mind under the notion of things lawful, and it may be neceffa- ry. So all thofe who excufe themfelves in the parable, from coming in- to the marriage feaft of the Gofpel, did it on the account of their being engaged in their lawtil callings. One about his farm, another his oxen, the means whereby he ploughed in this world. By this plea were the minds of men drawn off from that frame of heavenlinefs which is re- quired to our walking with God, and the rules of not loving the world, or ufing it as if we ufed it not, are hereby neglected. What wifdom, what watchfulnefs, what ferinas frequent trial and examination of our- felves is required, to keep our hearts and minds in an heavenly frame, in the ufe and purfuit of earthly things, is not my prefent bufinefs to declare. This is evident, that the engin whereby the deceit of fin draws off and turns afide the mind in this matter, is the pretence of the law- fulnefs of things about whirls it would have it exercife itfelf, againft which very few are armed with fufficient diligence, wifdom and Piill. And this is the firft and inoft general attempt that indwelling fin, snakes upon the foul by deceit : it draws away the mind from a diligent at- tention unto its courfe, in a due fenfe of the evil of fin, and a'dueand ronftant confideration of God and lais grace. CHAP.
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