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

Forget not this in the next place, (I speak now to Christians that would feign have their Conversations in Heaven) I say to you, Take heed and be careful that you rest not in formality; watch to get opportunities, but be not formal in duties in them. Oh! this will mightily darken your Conversations, it will make them very earthly, there will be no beauty at all in them if you come to rest in formality in holy performances: There's many Christians that we hope may have some good at the bottom, yet growing to a form in Religion they never honour their profession, they have little comfort to their own souls, they go on in a dead hearted condition, they know not what it is to have communion with God, Oh beware of that; that we are all by nature subject too; those that have enlightenings of conscience, they dare not but take opportunities for Heavenly duties; but then comes in the temptation of the Devil, and the corruption of our own hearts; when I have done my task, then it's over, I have prayed, I but you have been in Heaven that while? what converse with God have you had there? Oh take heed of formality! it will exceedingly hinder your Conversation. But now, a Christian though of never such weak parts, can but chatter to God, and ⟨p. 254⟩speak a few broken words and half sentences, yet if he doth not rest in formality he may have much converse with God, whereas others that have excellent parts, yet resting in the work done, never knows what the meaning is of having a Conversation in Heaven.

Forget not this in the next place, (I speak now to Christians that would feign have their Conversations in Heaven) I say to you, Take heed and be careful that you rest not in formallity; watch to get opportunities, but be not formal in duties in them. Oh! this will mightily darken your Conversations, it will make them very earthly, there will be no beauty at all in them if you come to rest in formallity in holy performances: There's many Christians that we hope may have some good at the bottom, yet growing to a form in Religion they never honor their profession, they have little comfort to their own souls, they go on in a dead hearted condition, they know not what it is to have communion with God, Oh beware of that; that we are all by nature subject too; those that have enlightenings of conscience, they dare not but take opportunities for Heavenly duties; but then comes in the temptation of the Devil, and the corruption of our own hearts; when I have done my task, then it's over, I have prayed, I but you have been in Heaven that while? what converse with God have you had there? Oh take heed of formallity! it will exceedingly hinder your Conversation. But now, a Christian though of never such weak parts, can but chatter to God, and