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

Secondly, Though they should not be rules or grounds of faith, yet they should be enough to take off prejudices that come from accusations of men. If men will accuse the ways of godliness, and if there be any prejudices taken up against the paths of Zion without ground, the example of godly men ⟨p. 94⟩should be enough to make us stand out against them; it may be you hear many crying out bitterly against such a way of Worship, and many false aspersions are cast upon it, because it is not a National way of Worship, for few there be that follow it. Now do but observe what manner of persons do worship God in that way which some call Heresy, are they not of holy and blameless Conversations according to the Gospel, the strictest Puritans? Now though you must not do as they do merely from their example, yet their example should have a great deal of power and influence upon you to take off prejudices, and answer accusations, and to calm and sweeten your angry and bitter spirits.

Secondly, Though they should not be rules or grounds of faith, yet they should be enough to take off prejudices that come from accusations of men. If men will accuse the waies of godliness, and if there be any prejudices taken up against the paths of Sion without ground, the example of godly men ⟨p. 94⟩should be enough to make us stand out against them; it may be you hear many crying out bitterly against such a way of Worship, and many false aspersions are cast upon it, because it is not a National way of Worship, for few there be that follow it. Now do but observe what manner of persons do worship God in that way which some cal Heresie, are they not of holy and blameless Conversations according to the Gospel, the strictest Puritans? Now though you must not do as they do meerly from their example, yet their example should have a great deal of power and influence upon you to take off prejudices, and answer accusations, and to calm and sweeten your angry and bitter spirits.

Thirdly, Examples though not sufficient ground and rule for faith, yet they should be enough to make us to enquire after those ways, and to examine and try, whether they have any footing in the Word, because the followers of them, are very upright and circumspect in their way. Let me at least enquire after these ways, let me examine them by the light of the Gospel, surely there is some probability that these ways are the very paths of Zion, and lead to the gate of Heaven, because the Professors of them are such friends of Jesus Christ; It's likely that these men should know the mind of God that do converse with God most, that lie in his bosom, as the beloved Disciple in Christs: Is it not more likely that a man that is a familiar friend, and converses daily with such an one that this man should know his secrets, his will rather than a stranger? so all men in the world are strangers to God, but only the Saints: they converse with God, they are the men of his Counsel, and his heart, and therefore of all men in the world it's most likely that they should have all the Wills of God revealed unto them: All Learning and Natural wisdom cannot show the mind of God so much as converse with God, and an holy humble familiarity with him; God loves to open his bosom to his hidden ones, to reveal his mind to them; and therefore when we see men that are godly whose Conversation