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

The seventh Evidence.

One that walks with God, he is careful to make even his accounts with God, he doth keep his accounts with God even. This is a special thing in walking with God, when they lie down to consider, Are my accounts even with God? is there nothing amiss between God and my soul? what hath been this day between God and my soul? For how can two walk together except they be agreed as the Prophet saith: Therefore they are very careful to keep their agreement with God. Indeed Jesus Christ the great Reconciler hath first reconciled their souls to God and so they come to walk with him: but then afterwards in the course of their lives they must keep up their agreement with God, and not to run in arrearages with, and so to be ensnared in the world, and ensnared in the corruptions of their own hearts, as that men and women will be, if they be not careful to keep their accounts with God even daily, They will ensnare their souls in the world and in the lusts of their own hearts till God and their souls come to be strangers, yea, till they be afraid almost to think of God; Here's the reason that many people are loth to come to prayer, loth to come to duties of communion with God, why? because they have not kept their accounts even with God, but have run in arrearages with God, and their hearts are entangled in the world, and in their lusts, and now the presence of God comes to be terrible to them; Oh poor wretch that thou art, what thou that art a Christian and yet in such a case that the presence of God should be grievous to thee! Oh thy condition is sad indeed! whereas thou shouldst be glad when thou thinkest of God, I was ⟨p. 314⟩glad when they said, Come let us go up to the house of the Lord: But one that keeps not his accounts with God even, his retired times are grievous to him, Indeed he dares not but have retired times, I but it's grievous to him, why? because he hath not kept his accounts even with God; But the soul that keeps even with God, Oh that soul rejoiceth in those times when it is to go to God, or doth but think of God. That's a special thing in a man or woman's walking with God, they keep their accounts even: And I beseech you observe it, As it's an Evidence, so it may be given as a Rule to help you to walk with God, Oh be careful of keeping your accounts daily: