The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

2. Careful Avoidance of all societies and businesses of this life, which are apt under various pretences to draw and seduce the mind unto an earthly or sensual frame. If men will venture on those things which they have found by Experience, or may find by Observation, that they seduce and draw off their Minds from an Heavenly frame unto that which is contrary thereunto, and will not watch unto their avoidance, they will be filled with the fruit of their own ways. Indeed the Common Converses of Professors among themselves and others, walking, talking ⟨image 94⟩and behaving themselves like other men, being as full of the world as the world is of it self, hath lost the Grace of being Spiritually-minded within, and stained the Glory of Profession without. The Rule observed by David will manifest how careful we ought to be herein, Psal. 39.1, 2, 3. I said I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my Tongue: I will keep my Mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace even from good, and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then spake I with my Tongue: Which place was spoken unto before.

2. Careful Avoidance of all societies and businesses of this life, which are apt under various pretences to draw and seduce the mind unto an earthly or sensual frame. If men will venture on those things which they have found by Experience, or may find by Observation, that they seduce and draw off their Minds from an Heavenly frame unto that which is contrary thereunto, and will not watch unto their avoidance, they will be filled with the fruit of their own wayes. Indeed the Common Converses of Professors among themselves and others, walking, talking ⟨image 94⟩and behaving themselves like other men, being as full of the world as the world is of it self, hath lost the Grace of being Spiritually-minded within, and stain'd the Glory of Profession without. The Rule observ'd by David will manifest how careful we ought to be herein, Psal. 39.1, 2, 3. I said I will take heed to my wayes, that I sin not with my Tongue: I will keep my Mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace even from good, and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then spake I with my Tongue: Which place was spoken unto before.