The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

3. There are yet less Degrees of this disregard of God and forgetfulness of him. Some are so filled with Thoughts of the World, and the Occasions of Life, that it is impossible they should think of God as they ought. For as the Love of God, and the Love of the World in prevalent Degrees are inconsistent, (for if a man loveth this World, how dwelleth the Love of God in him?) so Thoughts of God and of the World, in the like Degree are inconsistent. This is the state of many who yet would be esteemed Spiritually minded. They are continually conversant in their Minds about earthly things. Some things impose themselves on them under the Notion of Duty: They belong unto their Callings, they must be attended unto. Some are suggested unto their Minds from daily occasions and occurrences. Common Converse in the world engageth men into no other but worldly Thoughts: Love and desire of earthly things, their enjoyment and increase, exhaust the vigour of their Spirits all the day long. In the midst of a multitude of Thoughts arising from these and the like occasions, whilst their Hearts and Heads are reeking with ⟨p. 133⟩the steam of them, many fall immediately in their seasons unto the Performance of Holy Duties. Those times must suffice for Thoughts of God. But notwithstanding such Duties, what through the want of a due preparation for them, what through the fullness of their minds and Affections with other things, and what through a neglect of Exercising Grace in them, it may be said comparatively, that God is not in all their Thoughts.

3. There are yet less Degrees of this disregard of God and forgetfulness of him. Some are so filled with Thoughts of the World, and the Occasions of Life, that it is impossible they should think of God as they ought. For as the Love of God, and the Love of the World in prevalent Degrees are inconsistent, (for if a man loveth this World, how dwelleth the Love of God in him?) so Thoughts of God and of the World, in the like Degree are inconsistent. This is the state of many who yet would be esteemed Spiritually minded. They are continually conversant in their Minds about earthly things. Some things impose themselves on them under the Notion of Duty: They belong unto their Callings, they must be attended unto. Some are suggested unto their Minds from daily occasions and occurrences. Common Converse in the world ingageth men into no other but wordly Thoughts: Love and desire of earthly things, their enjoyment and encrease, exhaust the vigour of their Spirits all the day long. In the midst of a multitude of Thoughts arising from these and the like occasions, whilst their Hearts and Heads are reaking with