VI. Let thy spirit, mindful of its own heavenly birth, immortal nature, and everlasting home, ever generously fortify it self with victorious resolution against worldliness, the canker and cut-throat of all heavenly-mindedness, and hearty conversation above. Of all the foul fiends, that haunt the hearts of carnal men, there is none that holds a stronger opposition, and counter-motion to walking with God, then covetousness. Ambition, sensuality, and other ways of death, cut off their slaves with an accursed disacquaintance, and estrangement far enough from all comfortable access unto the Throne of Grace: but affections nailed and glued to the Earth, have this pestilent precedency, that they hold the remotest point of declination, from the warmth and influence of any sweet communion with the Sun of righteousness, and Gods glorious face. All earthly-minded men ordinarily, howsoever they may be outwardly restrained and reserved, are secret deriders of the power of godliness, holy strictness of the Saints, and mysteries of Grace. And the Pharisees also, saith Luke, chap. 16. 14. who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him: even mocked, and made themselves merry with the searching, and heart piercing Sermons of the Son of God. Their hearts, and hopes are wholly anchored upon the Earth, and locked up in their chests: and therefore they dream of no other heaven, then their golden hoards, heaps of wealth, and present temporal happiness. Whereas notwithstanding, one refreshing glimpse shining, and shed into our hearts from Gods pleased face, and well-grounded assurance of being His, is infinitely more worth then all the Gold that ever the Sun made, or shall make while it stands in Heaven.
VI. Let thy spirit, mindfull of its owne heauenly birth, immortall nature, and euerlasting home, euer generously fortifie it selfe with victorious resolution against worldlinesse, the canker and cut-throate of all heauenly-mindednes, and hearty conuersation aboue. Of all the foule fiends, that haunt the hearts of carnall men, there is none that holds a stronger opposition, and counter-motion to walking with God, then couetousnesse. Ambition, sensualitie, and other wayes of death, cut off their slaues with an accursed disacquaintance, and estrangement farre enough from all comfortable accesse vnto the Throne of Grace: but affections nailed and glued to the Earth, haue this pestilent precedency, that they hold the remotest point of declination, from the warmth and influence of any sweete communion with the Sunne of righteousnesse, and Gods glorious face. All earthly-minded men ordinarily, howsoeuer they may be outwardly restrained and reserued, are secret deriders of the power of godlinesse, holy strictnesse of the Saints, and mysteries of Grace. And the Pharises also, saith Luke, chap. 16. 14. who were couetous, heard all these things: and they derided him: euen mockt, and made themselues merry with the searching, and heartpiercing Sermons of the Sonne of God. Their hearts, and hopes are wholly anchored vpon the Earth, and lockt vp in their chests: and therefore they dreame of no other heauen, then their golden hoards, heapes of wealth, and present temporall happinesse. Whereas notwithstanding, one refreshing glimpse shining, and shed into our hearts from Gods pleased face, and well-grounded assurance of being His, is infinitely more worth then all the Gold that euer the Sunne made, or shall make while it stands in Heauen.
