Two treatises of Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs. The first of earthly-mindedness

But now, Do you reason thus for the things of Heaven? do not I see many that have made a great blaze of Religion, and yet afterwards they have come to nothing, they have gone out in a snuff as men that God hath forsaken, and they have died in horror of Conscience; and therefore let me lay up provision now against an evil time, that I may not miscarry in the matters of my soul so as others have done; this were a sign your minds were not earthly. And for your children, God hath sent you children, and Oh! ⟨p. 56⟩how you toil and labour, and your thoughts run in the night, and as soon as you awake in the morning, about what you shall get for their portions, and for an estate for them: Now I appeal to your conscience before God (the searcher of all hearts) Have your cares been to provide in a suitable way for their souls, for their spiritual and eternal estates? No question but it's lawful for parents to provide in a Providential way for their children, and they that do not are worse than Infidels; but what is your chief provision for? are your thoughts more solicitous to provide portions for them, than that they should have instruction in the fear of God, an interest in Christ, than that they should have grace wrought in their hearts? You are loth to die before you can bring your estate so clear as you may leave it to your children:! Oh are you not loth die before such time as you see some work of grace wrought in the hearts of your children? Oh! these would your thoughts be if you were spiritual: Oh! could I discern but some seeds of grace sown before I was dissolved I could rejoice abundantly. As 'tis repeated of Austen's Mother, that the great thing that she desired to live for, was to see her son Converted; and God did grant her desire, and then she found her self willing to die. There's nothing will make the spiritual heart of a father or mother more willing to depart from this world, than to find grace wrought in their children; Oh! that I may see before I die my child left under the promise in Covenant with God: I, this were somewhat-like indeed: But those whose cares & thoughts are most for these earthly things, in providing for themselves and children, that's a Convincement that their hearts are earthly.

But now, Do you reason thus for the things of Heaven? do not I see many that have made a great blaze of Religion, and yet afterwards they have come to nothing, they have gone out in a snuffe as men that God hath forsaken, and they have died in horror of Conscience; and therfore let me lay up provision now against an evil time, that I may not miscarrie in the matters of my soul so as others have done; this were a sign your minds were not earthly. And for your children, God hath sent you children, and Oh!