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

That man that can be content with a slight assurance in the matters of Heaven, but for the matters of earth he never thinks himself ⟨p. 57⟩sure enough, but is very careful to make all things so infallible as there can be no way that he can be deceived in, but he may surely build upon what he hath in the things of this earth. This is an argument of an earthly mind, Come to men that are earthly, and discourse with them concerning matters that concern their souls, What assurance have you that you are gone beyond any formal professor, that you are better than the stony or thorny grounds that we read of in Scripture? What evidence have you that the saving work of grace is wrought in you? that you have shot the gulf? that you are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? and that your sins are pardoned, and your souls justified? that you are at peace with God? what evidences have you of peace made between God and your souls: This answer would be given: I hope I am converted, I trust in Gods mercy, sure I have grace, I shall be saved, God is merciful. But what evidences can you show? They know not scarce what belongs to that, nay, you shall have many of them, because they know not what assurance means, therefore they, will think no body can be assured; we may hope well but we cannot come to be assured of it: No, a heart that is truly gracious and godly would be loth that should be true for a thousand worlds, they would not lose their parts in the blessing of that, if God would make them Kings or Queens of the earth. But thou hast an earthly drossy heart, and doest not much look after assurance for matters of thy soul and eternal estate, thou wilt venture those matters and put them upon a peradventure; but when it comes to the matters of the earth there thou wilt make all sure, and go from this Lawyer to another Lawyer to ask council, & to see whether the things are good, and will enrol them; and if there can be any thing done to make more sure (if it be any great sum upon which your estates lies) you will do it. I appeal to you, If you could but hear of any of your neighbours what they had done to make such a thing more certain than you have done; you would scarce be at rest till ⟨p. 58⟩you had done so as they have done: is it so in matters of your eternal estate?

That man that can be content with a slight assurance in the matters of Heaven, but for the matters of earth he never thinks himself