Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life,…

DIRECTION VI.

¹Hath God spared you in time of Pestilence; Then be dead unto the World, and to things below: Take heed that you do not return with too great an eagerness after the Affairs of this world; as if you had not seen such sights, as you have seen, of Death, and the vanity of the World: You are not dead in your Grave; let this Mercy move you to be dead to the World, and sinful Affections: You are living in the World, but, you must be dead to the World. It is to be feared, that there are many will be as eagerly bent after the things of this World, as they were before; notwithstanding the Course that God hath taken by smarting Judgments, to wean them from the World: That will be like unto a Stream stopped and dammed up; when it gets over the Banks, and the obstruction is removed, runneth down with greater force. God hath put many by their way of Trade, for some Months; Now take heed, that through over-much eagerness, to regain what loss you have sustained by the forbearance of your Calling, you do not let out too much of your heart and affections upon these things; nor give them more of your time, than you can well allow ⟨p. 242⟩from the necessary Duties of Gods immediate Worship, and the things that do concern the state of your Souls in the life to come. Be dead to the Profits, Honours, Pleasures, Wisdom, of this World.

¹HAth God spared you in time of Pestilence; Then be dead unto the World, and to things below: Take heed that you do not returne with too great an eagerness after the Affairs of this world; as if you had not seen such sights, as you have seen, of Death, and the vanity of the World: You are not dead in your Grave; let this Mercy move you to be dead to the World, and sinful Affections: You are living in the World, but, you must be dead to the World. It is to be feared, that there are many will be as eagerly bent after the things of this World, as they were before; notwithstanding the Course that God hath taken by smarting Judgments, to weane them from the World: That will be like unto a Stream stopped and dammed up; when it gets over the Bankes, and the obstruction is removed, runneth down with greater force. God hath put many by their way of Trade, for some Moneths; Now take heed, that through over-much eagerness, to regain what loss you have sustained by the forbearance of your Calling, you do not let out too much of your heart and affections upon these things; nor give them more of your time, than you can well allow