Hearts and Affections 3. Earnestness and appearing Fervency in Prayer as unto the outward delivery of the Words of it yea though the mind be so affected as to contribute much thereunto will not of themselves prove that the Thoughts of men therein do arise from an Internal Spring of Grace There is a Fervency of Spirit in Prayer that is one of the best Properties of it being an earnest Acting of Love Faith and Desire But there is a Fervency wherewith the mind it self may be affected that may arise from other Causes 1. It may do so from the ingagement of Natural Affections unto the Object of their Prayer or the things Prayed for Men may be mighty Earnest and Intent in their minds in praying for a Dear Relation or for Deliverance from Eminent Troubles or Imminent Dangers and yet all this Fervour arise from the vehement Actings of Natural Affections about the things prayed for excited in an especial manner by the present Duty Hence God calls the earnest cryes of some for Temporal things not a Crying unto him but an Howling Hosea 7.14 That is the cry of hungry Ravenous Beasts that would be satisfied 2. Sometimes it ariseth from the sharpness of Convictions which will make men even Roar in their Prayers for disquietment of Heart And this may be where there is no true Grace as yet received nor it may be ever will be so For the perplexing Work of Convictions goes before real Conversion and as it produceth many other Effects and Changes in the mind so it may do this of great Fervency in Vocal Prayers especially if it be accompanied with outward Afflictions Pains or Troubles Psal. 78.34 35. 3. Oft-times the Mind and Affections are very little concerned in that Fervour and Earnestness which appear in the outward Performance of the Duty But in the exercise of Gifts and through their own utterance men put their Natural Affections into such an Agitation as shall carry them out into a great Vehemency in their Expressions It hath been so with sundry Persons who have been discovered to be Rotten Hypocrites and have afterwards turned Cursed Apostates Wherefore all these things may be where there is no gracious Spring or Vital Principle Acting it self from within in Spiritual Thoughts Some it may be will design an Advantage by their Conceptions unto the Interest of Prophaneness and Scoffing For if there may be these evils under the Exercise of the Gift of Prayer both in Constancy and with Fervency if there may be a total want of the Exercise of all true Grace with it and under it then it may be all that is pretended of this Gift and its Use is but Hypocrisie and Talk But I say 1. It may be as well pretended that because the Sun shining on a Dung-hill doth occasion offensive and noisom Steams therefore all that is pretended of its Influence on Spices and Flowers causing them to give out their Fragrancy is utterly false No man ever thought that Spiritual Gifts did change or renew the Minds and Natures of Men where they are alone they only help and assist unto the useful Exercise of Natural Faculties and Powers And therefore where the Heart is not savingly renewed no Gifts can stir up a saving Exercise of Faith But where it is so they are a means to cause the Savour of it to flow forth 2. Be it so that there may be some Evils found under the Exercise of the Gift of Prayer what remedy for them may be proposed Is it that men should Renounce their use of it and betake themselves unto the Reading of Prayers only 1. The same may be said of all Spiritual Gifts whatever for they are all of them liable unto Abuse And shall we reject all the Powers of the World to come the whole complexe of Gospel Gifts for the Commuication whereof the Lord Christ hath promised to continue his Spirit with his Church unto the end of the World because by some they are abused 2. Not only the same but far greater evils may be found in and under the Reading of Prayers which needs no further Demonstration than what it gives of it self every Day 3. It is hard to understand how any benefit at all can accrew unto any by this Relief when the Advantages of the other way are evident Wherefore the Enquiry remains How we may know unto our own satisfaction that the Thoughts we have of Spiritual things in the Duty of Prayer are from Internal fountain of Grace and so are an evidence that we are Spiritually minded whereunto all these things do tend Some few things I shall offer towards Satisfaction herein 1. I take it for granted on the Evidence before given that Persons who have any Spiritual Light and will diligently Examine and Try their own Hearts will be able to discern what real Actings of Faith of Love and Delight in God there are in their Duties and consequently what is the Spring of their Spiritual Thoughts In general we are assured that he that believeth hath the Witness in himself 1 Joh. 5.10 Sincere Faith will be its own Evidence And where there are Sincere Actings of Faith they will evidence themselves if we try all things impartially by the Word But if men do as for the most part they do content themselves with the Performance of any Duty without an Examination of their Principles Frames and Actings of Grace in them it is no wonder if they walk in all Uncertainty 2. When the Soul finds a sweet Spiritual Complacency in and after its Duties it is an Evidence that Grace hath been acted in its Spiritual Thoughts and Desires Jer. 31. The Prophet receiveth a long gracious Message from God filled up with Excellent Promises and Pathetical Exhortations unto the Church The whole is as it were summ'd up in the close of it Ver. 25. For I have satiated the weary Soul and I have replenished every sorrowful Soul Whereon the Prophet adds Vpon this I awaked and beheld and my Sleep was sweet unto me God's gracious Message had so composed his spirits and freed his mind from Trouble as that he was at quiet Repose in himself like a man asleep But after the end of it he stirrs up himself unto a Review and Consideration of what had been spoken unto him I awaked and beheld or I stirred up my self and considered what had been delivered unto me And saith he my Sleep was sweet unto me I found a gracious Complacency in and Refreshment unto my Soul from what I had heard and received So is it oft-times with a Soul that hath had real Communion with God in the Duty of Prayer It finds it self both in it and afterwards when it is awakened unto the consideration of it spiritually refreshed it is sweet unto him This holy Complacency this Rest and sweet Repose of mind is the Foundation of the Delight of Believers in this Duty They do not pray only because it is their Duty so to do nor yet because
Thoughts Some wayes that have been found out to keep up a pretence and appearance of it have been and are destructive unto it But herein consists the very Life of all Religion The fear of God is in the Old Testament the usual expression of all the due respect of our Souls unto him and that because where that is not in exercise nothing is accepted with him And thence the whole of our wisdom is said to consist therein and if it be not in a prevalent exercise in all wherein we have to do with him immediately all our Duties are utterly lost as to the Ends of his Glory and the Spiritual Advantage of our own Souls CHAP. IX What of God or in God we are to think and meditate upon His Being Reasons of it Oppositions to it the way of their Conquest Thoughts of the Omnipresence and Omniscience of God peculiarly necessary The Reasons hereof As also of his Omnipotency The Use and Benefit of such Thoughts THese things mentioned have been premised in General as unto the nature manner and way of exercise of our Thoughts on God That which remains is to give some particular instances of what we are to think upon in an especial manner and what we will be conversant withall in our Thoughts if so be we are Spiritually minded And I shall not insist at present on the things which concern his Grace and Love in Christ Jesus which belong unto another head but on those which have an Immediate respect unto the Divine Nature it self and its holy essential Properties 1. Think much of the Being and Existence of God Herein lyes the Foundation of all our Relation and access unto him Heb. 11.6 He that cometh unto God must believe that he is This is the first Object of Faith and it is the first Act of Reason and being the sole Foundation of all Religion it is our duty to be exercised unto multiplied Thoughts about it renewed on all occasions For many who are not direct Atheists yet live without any solid well-grounded Assent unto the Divine being They do not so believe it as to be practically influenced with the Consideration of it It is granted that the inbred Light of Nature in the due exercise of Reason will give any Rational creature satisfaction in the Being of God But there is in the most an Anticipation of any Thoughts of this nature by Tradition and Education which hath invited men into an assent unto it they know not how They never call'd it into question nor have as they suppose any cause so to do Nature it self startles at the first Thoughts of denying of it but if ever such persons on any urgent occasions come to have real Thoughts about it they are at a loss and fluctuate in their minds as not having any certain indubitable convicton of its truth Wherefore as our Knowledge of the Divine Being is as to the Foundation of it laid in the Light of Nature the Operation of Conscience and the due exercise of Reason about the works and effects of infinite Power and Wisdom so it ought to be increased and rendred useful by faith in Divine Revelations and the Experience of Divine power through them By this Faith we ought to let in frequent thoughts of the Divine being and Existence And that on two Reasons rendring the duty necessary in an Eminent manner in this Age wherein we live 1. The abounding of Atheism both Notional and Practical The Reasons of it have been given before and the matter of fact is evident unto any Ordinary observation And on two accounts with respect hereunto we ought to abound in Thoughts of Faith concerning the Being of God 1. An especial Testimony is required in us in opposition to this cursed effect of Hell He therefore who is spiritually minded cannot but have many Thoughts of the Being of God thereby giving Glory to him Isai. 43.9 10 11 12. Let all the Nations be gathered together and let the people be assembled who among them can declare this and shew us former things let them bring forth their witnesses that they may be justified or let them hear and say It is truth Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me I even I am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour I have declared and have saved and I have shewed when there was no strange god among you therefore ye are my witnesses saith the Lord that I am God Chap. 44.8 Fear ye not neither be afraid have not I told thee from that time and have declared it ye are even my witnesses Is there a God besides me yea there is no God I know not any 2. We shall have occasion of them continually administred unto us Those Atheistical impieties principles and practices which abound amongst us are grievous provocations unto all pious Souls Without frequent retreat unto Thoughts of the Being of God there is no relief nor refreshment to be had under them Such was the case of Noah in the old World and of Lot in Sodom which rendred their Graces illustrious 2. Because of the unaccountable Confusions that all things are fill'd withall at this day in the World Whatever in former times hath been a Temptation in humane Affairs unto any of the People of God it abounds at this day Never had men profane and profligate greater outward appearances to strengthen them in their Atheism nor those that are Godly greater Tryals for their Faith with respect unto the visible State of things in the world The Psalmist of old on such an occasion was almost surprized into unbelieving complaints Psal. 73.2 3 4 c. And such surprizals may now also befall us that we may be ready to say with him Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in Innocency for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning Hence when the Prophet Habakkuk was exercised with Thoughts about such a state of things as is at this day in the World which he declares Chap. 1.6 7 8 9 10 11 12. he layes the foundation of his consideration in the fresh exercise of Faith on the Being and Properties of God v. 12 13. And David makes that his Retreat on the like occasion Psal. 11.3 4 5. In such a season as this is upon both the accounts mentioned those who are spiritually minded will much exercise their Thoughts about the Being and Existence of God They will say within themselves Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous verily he is a God who judgeth in the earth Hence will follow such apprehensions of the Immensity of his Nature of his eternal Power and Infinite Wisdom of his absolute Soveraignty as will hold their Souls firm and stedfast in the highest storms of Temptation that may befall them Yet are there
Psalmist My Heart is enditing a good matter I speak of the things which I have made touching the King He was meditating on Spiritual things on the things of the Person and Kingdom of Christ. Hence his Heart bubbled up as it is in the Original a good matter It is an Allusion taken from a quick Spring of living Waters From its own life and fulness it bubbles up the water that runs and flows from it So is it with these thoughts in them that are Spiritually minded There is a living fulness of Spiritual things in their minds and Affections that springeth up into holy thoughts about them From hence doth our Saviour give us the great Description of Spiritual life It is a Well of living Water springing up into everlasting life Joh. 4.12 The Spirit with his Graces residing in the Heart of a Believer are a Well of living Water Nor is it such a Well as content with its own fulness doth not of its own accord without any Instrument or pains in drawing send out its refreshing waters as it is with most Wells though of living Water For this is spoken by our Saviour in answer and opposition unto that Objection of the Woman upon this mention of giving living water v. 10. Sir saith she thou hast nothing to draw and the Well is deep whence wilt thou have this Water V. 11. True saith he such is the nature of this Well and Water dead earthly things They are of no use unless we have Instruments Lines and Buckets to draw withall But the living Water which I shall give is of another nature It is not water to be kept in a Pit or Cistern without us whence it must be drawn but it is within us and that not dead and useless but continually springing up unto the use and refreshment of them that have it For so is it with the Principle of the New Creature of the new Nature the Spirit and his Graces in the Hearts of them that do believe It doth of it self and from it self without any external Influence on it incline and dispose the whole Soul unto spiritual Actings that tend unto Eternal Life Such are the thoughts of them that are Spiritually minded They arise from the inward Principle Inclination and Disposition of the Soul are the bublings of this Well of living water they are the mindings of the Spirit So our Saviour describes them Matth. 12.35 A Good man out of the Good Treasure of the Heart bringeth forth Good things First the Man is Good as he said before make the Tree Good or the Fruit cannot be Good v. 33. He is made so by Grace in the Change and Renovation of his Nature For in our selves we are every way evil This Good man hath a Treasure in his Heart So all men have as the next words are the evil man out of the evil Treasure of the Heart And this is the great difference that is between men in this world Every man hath a Treasure in his Heart that is a prevailing inexhaustible Principle of all his actings and operations But in some this Treasure is Good in others it is Evil. That is the prevailing Principle in the Heart which carries along with it its dispositions and Inclinations is in some Good and gracious in others it is evil Out of this Good Treasure a Good man bringeth forth Good things The first opening of it the first bringing of it forth is by these thoughts The Thoughts that arise out of the Heart are of the same nature with the Treasure that is in it If the Thoughts that naturally arise and spring up in us are for the most part vain foolish sensual earthly selfish such is the Treasure that is in our Hearts and such are we But where the Thoughts that thus naturally proceed from the Treasure that is in the Heart are spiritual and holy it is an argument that we are spiritually minded Where it is not thus with our Thoughts they give no such Evidence as that enquired after Men may have Thoughts of spiritual things and that many of them and that frequently which do not arise from this Principle but may be resolved into two other Causes 1. Inward Force 2. Outward Occasions 1. Inward Force as it may be called This is by Convictions Convictions put a kind of a force upon the mind or an Impression that causeth it to act contrary unto its own habitual Disposition and Inclination It is in the Nature of water to descend But apply an Instrument unto it that shall make a compression of it and force it unto a vent it will fly upwards vehemently as if that were its natural motion But so soon as the force of the Impression ceaseth it returns immediately unto its own proper tendency descending towards its center So is it with mens Thoughts oft-times They are earthly their natural course and motion is downwards unto the Earth and the things thereof But when any efficacious Conviction presseth on the mind it forceth the egress of its Thoughts upwards towards Heavenly things It will think much and frequently of them as if that were their proper motion and Course But so soon as the Power of the Conviction decayes or wears off that the mind is no more sensible of its force and impression the thoughts of it return again unto their old Course and Track as the water tends downwards This State and frame is graphically described Psal. 78.35 36 37. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God And they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer Nevertheless they did but flatter him with their mouths and they lyed unto him with their tongues for their Heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Men in Troubles Dangers Sickness Fears of Death or under effectual Conviction of Sin from the preaching of the Word will endeavour to think and meditate on spiritual Things Yea they will be greatly troubled that they cannot think of them more than they do and esteem it their folly that they think of any thing else But as freedom and Deliverance do approach so these thoughts decay and disappear The mind will not be compelled to give place unto them any more The Prophet gives the Reason of it Jer. 13.23 Can the Aethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are accustomed unto evil They have had another haunt been taught another course the habit and Inclination of the mind lyes another way and they will no longer tend towards spiritual things than an impression is on them from their Convictions And it is an Argument of very mean Attainments of a low and weak degree in this frame of heart or in our being spiritually minded when our Thoughts of spiritual things do rise or fall according unto renewed occasional Convictions If when we are under Rebukes from God in our Persons or Relations
in general but that men have decocted and wasted the Light and Power of Christian Religion It is the fullest Revelation of God that ever he made it is the last that ever he will make in this World If this be despised if men rebell against the Light of it if they break the Cords of it and are senseless of its Power nothing can preserve them from the highest Atheism that the nature of man is capable of It is in vain to expect Relief or Preservation from inferior means where the highest and most Noble is rejected Reason or the Light of Nature gives Evidences unto the being of God and Arguments are still well pleaded from them to the confusion of Atheists And they were sufficient to retain men in an Acknowledgment of the Divine Power and Godhead who had no other no higher Evidences of them But where men have had the Benefit of Divine Revelation where they have been Educated in the Principles of Christian Religion have had some Knowledge and made some Profession of them and have through the Love of sin and hatred of every thing that is truely good rejected all Convictions from them concerning the Being Power and Rule of God they will not be kept unto a Confession of them by any considerations that the Light of nature can suggest There are therefore among others three Reasons why there are more Atheists among them who live where the Christian Religion is professed and the Power of it rejected than among any other sort of men even than there were among the Heathens themselves 1. God hath designed to magnifie his Word above all his Name or all other wayes of the Revelation of himself unto the Children of Men Psal. 138.2 Where therefore this is rejected and despised he will not give the Honour unto Reason or the Light of Nature that they shall preserve the Minds of men from any evil whatever Reason shall not have the same Power and Efficacy on the Minds of men who reject the Light and Power of Divine Revelation by the Word as it hath or may have on them whose best guide it is who never enjoyed the Light of the Gospel And therefore there is oft times more common Honesty among civilized Heathens and Mahumetans than amongst degenerate Christians And from the same Reason the Children of Professors are sometimes irrecoverably profligate It will be said many are recovered unto God by Afflictions who have despised the Word But it is otherwise never any were converted unto God by Afflictions who had rejected the Word Men may by Afflictions be recalled unto the Light of the Word but none are immediately turned unto God by them As a good Shepheard when a Sheep wanders from the Flock and will not hear his call sends out his Dog which stops him and bites him Hereon he looks about him and hearing the call of the Shepheard returns again to the Flock Job 33.19 20 21 22 23 24 25. But with this sort of Persons it is the way of God that where the principal means of the Revelation of himself and wherein he doth most glorifie his Wisdom and his Goodness is despised he will not only take off the Efficacy of inferior means but judicially harden the Hearts and blind the Eyes of men that such means shall be of no use unto them See Isa. 6.8 9 10 11 12. Acts 13 40 41. Rom. 1.21 28. 2 Thes. 2.11 12. 2. The Contempt of Gospel Light and Christian Religion as it is supernatural which is the Beginning of Transgression unto all Atheists among us begets in and leaves on the mind such a depraved corrupt habit such a Congeries of all Evils that the Hatred of the Goodness Wisdom and Grace of God can produce that it cannot but be wholly inclined unto the worst of Evils as all our Original vitious Inclinations succeeded immediately on our rejection and loss of the Image of God The best things corrupted yeild the worst Savour as Manna stank and bred worms The Knowledge of the Gospel being rejected stinking Worms take the place of it in the Mind which grow into Vipers and Scorpions Every Degree of Apostacy from Gospel-Truth brings in a proportionate Degree of inclination unto wickedness into the Hearts and Minds of men 2 Pet. 2.21 And that which is total unto all the evils that they are capable of in this world Whereas therefore Multitudes from their Darkness Unbelief Temptation Love of Sin Pride and contempt of God do fall off from all subjection of Soul and Conscience unto the Gospel either notionally or practically deriding or despising all supernatural Revelations they are a thousand times more disposed unto down-right Atheism than Persons who never had the Light or Benefit of such Revelations Take heed of Decayes Whatever Ground the Gospel loseth in our Minds Sin possesseth it for it self and its own Ends. Let none say it is otherwise with them Men grow Cold and Negligent in the Duties of Gospel Worship publick and private which is to reject Gospel Light Let them say and pretend what they please that in other things in their Minds and Conversations it is well with them indeed it is not so Sin will sin doth one way or other make an encrease in them proportionate unto these Decayes and will sooner or later discover it self so to do And themselves if they are not utterly hardened may greatly discover it inwardly in their Peace or outwardly in their Lives 3. Where Men are resolved not to see the greater the Light is that shines about them the faster they must close they Eyes All Atheism springs from a Resolution not to see things invisible and Eternal Love of sin a resolved continuance in the practice of it the effectual Power of vitious Inclinations in opposition unto all that is Good make it the Interest of such men that there should be no God to call them to an account For a Supream unavoidable Judge an Eternal Rewarder of Good and Evil is inseparable from the first notion of a Divine Being Whereas therefore the most glorious Light and uncontroulable Evidence of these things shines forth in the Scripture men that will abide by their interest to love and live in sin must close their Eyes with all the Arts and Powers that they have or else they will pierce into their Minds unto their Torment This they do by down-right Atheism which alone pretends to give them security against the Light of Divine Revelation Against all other convictions they might take shelter from their fears under less degrees of it It is not therefore unto the Disparagement but honour of the Gospel that so many avow themselves to be Atheists in those places wherein the Truth of it is known and professed For none can have the least Inclination or Temptation thereunto untill they have before hand rejected the Gospel which immediately exposeth them unto the worst of Evils Nor is there any means for the Recovery of such Persons The Opposition that hath been
the things which are esteemed accidental whence it may be we are strangely delivered Sometimes we have so in the things which we see to befall others by Thunder Lightning Storms at Sea or Land For all the works of God especially those that are rare and strange have a voice whereby he speaks unto us The first thing suggested unto a spiritual Mind in such seasons will be God is in this place he is present that liveth and seeth as Hagar confessed on the like occasion Gen. 16.13 14. 3. Have frequent Thoughts of Gods Omnipotency or his Almighty Power This most men it may be suppose they need not much Exhortation unto for none ever doubted of it who doth not grant it on all occasions Men grant it indeed in general for eternal Power is inseparable from the first notion of the Divine Being So are they conjoyned by the Apostle his eternal Power and Godhead Rom. 1.20 Yet few believe it for themselves and as they ought Indeed to believe the Almighty Power of God with reference unto our selves and all our Concernments Temporal and Eternal is one of the highest and most Noble Acts of Faith which includes all others in it For this is that which God at first proposed alone as the proper Object of our Faith in our entrance into Covenant with him Gen. 17.1 I am God Almighty That which Job arrived unto after his long exercise and Tryal I know saith he thou canst do every thing and no Thought of thine can be hindred Chap. 42.2 God hath spoken once saith the Psalmist twice have I heard this that Power belongs unto God Psal. 62.11 It was that which God saw it necessary frequently to instruct him in For we are ready to be affected with the Appearances of present power in Creatures and to suppose that all things will go according unto their wills because of their power But it is quite otherwise all creatures are poor feeble Ciphers that can do nothing Power belongs unto God it is a flower of his Crown Imperial which he will suffer none to usurp if the proudest of them go beyond the Bounds and Limits of his present Permission he will send Worms to eat them up as he did to Herod It is utterly impossible we should walk before God unto his Glory or with any real peace comfort or satisfaction in our own Souls unless our minds are continually exercised with Thoughts of his Almighty Power Every thing that befalls us every thing that we hear of which hath the Least of Danger in it will discompose our Minds and either make us tremble like the leaves of the Forrest that are shaken with the wind or betake our selves to foolish or sinful relief unless we are firmly established in the Faith hereof Consider the Promises of God unto the Church which are upon Record and as yet unaccomplished consider the present state of the Church in the world with all that belongs unto it in all the fears and dangers they are exposed unto in all the evils they are exercised withall and we shall quickly find that unless this Sheat-anchor be well fix'd we shall be tossed up and down at all uncertainties and exposed to most violent Temptations Rev. 19.6 Unto this end are we call'd hereunto by God himself in his Answer unto the despondent complaints of the Church in its greatest dangers and calamities Isa. 40. 28 29 30 31. Hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the Everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the Earth fainteth not neither is weary There is no searching of his understanding He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Take one Instance which is the continual concernment of us all We are obnoxious unto Death every moment It is never the further from any of us because we think not of it as we ought This will lay our Bodies in the dust from whence they will have no more disposition nor power in themselves to rise again than any other part of the mould of the Earth Their recovery must be an act of external Almighty Power when God shall have a desire to the work of his hands when he shall call and we shall answer him out of the dust And it will transmit the Soul into an invisible world putting a final End unto all Relations Enjoyments and Circumstances here below I speak not of them who are stout-hearted and far from Righteousness who live and dye like Beasts or under the power of horrible Presumption without any due Thoughts of their future and Eternal state But as unto others what comfort or satisfaction can any man have in his Life whereon his All depends and which is passing from him every moment unless he hath continual Thoughts of the mighty power of God whereby he is able to receive his departing Soul and to raise his Body out of the dust Not to insist on more particulars Thus is it with them who are Spiritually minded thus must it be with us all if we pretend a Title unto that Priviledge They are filled with Thoughts of God in opposition unto that Character of wicked men that God is not in all their Thoughts And it is greatly to be feared that many of us when we come to be weighed in this Ballance will be found too Light Men may be in the performance of outward Dutyes they may hear the Word with some delight and do many things gladly they may escape the pollutions that are in the world through Lust and not run out into the same compass of Excess and Riot with other men yet may they be strangers unto inward Thoughts of God with delight and complacency I cannot understand how it can be otherwise with them whose minds are over and over filled with earthly things however they may satisfie themselves with pretences of their Callings and lawful Enjoyments or not any way inordinately set on the Pleasures or Profits of the world To walk with God to live unto him is not meerly to be found in an Abstinence from outward sins and in the performance of outward Duties though with Diligence in the Multiplication of them All this may be done upon such Principles for such Ends with such a frame of heart as to find no Acceptance with God It is our Hearts that he requireth and we can no way give them unto him but by our Affections and holy Thoughts of him with delight This it is to be spiritually minded this it is to walk with God Let no man deceive himself unless he thus abound in holy Thoughts of God unless our Meditation of him be sweet unto us all that we else pretend unto will fail us in the