Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

(2) It is so, from our own distractions and entanglements in the businesses and occasions of life. I speak not of such who spend the whole Week in the pursuit of their lusts and pleasures; whose Sabbath-Rest hath an equal share in profaneness, with all other parts of their lives. But we treat of those who in general make it their design to live unto God. The greatest part of these I do suppose to be engaged industriously, in some Calling or course of life. And these things are apt to fill their minds, as well as to take up their time, and much to conform them to their own likeness. Much converse with the world, is apt to beget a worldly frame in men, and earthly things will taint the mind with earthliness. And although it be our duty, in all our secular occasions also, to live to God, and whether we eat or drink to do all things unto his Glory; yet they are apt to unframe the mind, so as to make it unready unto Spiritual things, and Heavenly contemplations. There is a Command indeed that we should pray always; which at least requires of us, a readiness of mind to lay hold of all occasions and opportunities for prayer; yet none will deny, but that there is great advantage in a due preparation for that, and all other Duties of Religion. To empty therefore and purge our minds of secular earthly businesses, designs, projections, accounts, dependencies of things one ⟨p. 443⟩on another, with reasonings about them, as far as in us lieth, is a Duty required of us, in all our solemn approaches unto God. And if this be not done, but men go full of their occasions into Religious services, they will by one means or other return upon them, and prevail upon them to their disturbance. Great care is to be taken in this matter; and those who constantly exercise themselves unto a good conscience herein, will find themselves fitted for the Duties of the Day to a good success.

(2) It is so, from our own distractions and intanglements in the businesses and occasions of life. I speak not of such who spend the whole Week in the pursuit of their lusts and pleasures; whose Sabbath-Rest hath an equal share in prophaneness, with all other parts of their lives. But we treat of those who in general make it their design to live unto God. The greatest part of these I do suppose to be engaged industriously, in some Calling or course of life. And these things are apt to fill their minds, as well as to take up their time, and much to conform them to their own likeness. Much converse with the world, is apt to beget a worldly frame in men, and earthly things will taint the mind with earthlyness. And although it be our duty, in all our secular occasions also, to live to God, and whether we eat or drink to do all things unto his Glory; yet they are apt to unframe the mind, so as to make it unready unto Spiritual things, and Heavenly contemplations. There is a Command indeed that we should pray alwayes; which at least requires of us, a readiness of mind to lay hold of all occasions and opportunities for prayer; yet none will deny, but that there is great advantage in a due preparation for that, and all other Duties of Religion. To empty therefore and purge our minds of secular earthly businesses, designs, projections, accounts, dependencies of things one