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

Be sure of this, That there be no way of sin in thee. Take heed of giving way to any sin, especially known sin, though it be a little one, though it should be but a sin of omission, the giving way to any known sin, will make the presence of God terrible, and make all thy duties empty; will estrange God from thy soul: there's more evil in it than thou art aware of, thou canst have no Communion with God while thou art in any way of sin, especially if it be against Light, The least sin that is that a Christian gives way unto, is like a thorn in a mans foot, but a great sin, & a sin against knowledge is like a great gash in a mans foot; now if a man hath but a thorn in his foot he cannot walk well, it will make him halt; if a man hath but a little gravel got into his shoo he will not be able to walk along, he may walk a step or two, but not very long. Now small sins are like gravel in the shoo, or like a thorn got into the foot; but if thou fallest into a great sin, a sin against light, against conscience, Oh that is like a great gash that one may cut with a hatchet or an axe; if a man hath cut a great gash in his foot he will hardly be able to walk with comfort: Even so it is when thou fallest into any great sin, thou hadst need then go to the Chirurgeon, thou hadst need then have salve applied to thee to heal thy soul, or otherwise it will hinder thee in thy walk with God.

Be sure of this, That there be no way of sin in thee. Take heed of giving way to any sin, especially known sin, though it be a little one, though it should be but a sin of omision, the giving way to any known sin, will make the presence of God terrible, and make all thy duties empty; will estrang God from thy soul: there's more evil in it than thou art aware of, thou canst have no Communion with God while thou art in any way of sin, especially if it be against Light, The least sin that is that a Christian gives way unto, is like a thorn in a mans foot, but a great sin, & a sin against knowledg is like a great gash in a mans foot; now if a man hath but a thorn in his foot he cannot walk well, it will make him halt; if a man hath but a little gravel got into his shoo he will not be able to walk along, he may walk a step or two, but not very long. Now small sins are like gravil in the shoo, or like a thorn got into the foot; but if thou fallest into a great sin, a sin against light, against conscience, Oh that is like a great gash that one may cut with a hatchet or an ax; if a man hath cut a great gash in his foot he wil hardly be able to walk with comfort: Even so it is when thou fallest into any great sin, thou hadst need then go to the Chyriurgeon, thou hadst need then have salve applied to thee to heal thy soul, or otherwise it wil hinder thee in thy walk with God.