The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

2. Although Industry in any honest Calling be allowable, yet unless men labour to be Spiritually-minded in the exercise of that Industry, they have neither Life nor Peace. Hereunto all the things before mentioned, are necessary; I know not how any of them can be abated, yea more is required than is expressed in them. If you burn this Roll, another must be written, and many like things must be added unto it. And the Objection from the expense of Time in the Observance of them, is of no force. For a man may do as much work whilst he is Spiritually minded, as whilst he is Carnal. Spiritual Thoughts will no more hinder you in your Callings than those that are vain and earthly, which all sorts of men can find leisure for in the midst of their Employments. If you have filled a Vessel with Chaff, yet you may pour into it a great deal of water, which will be contained in the same space and Vessel. And if it be necessary that you should take in much of the Chaff of the world into your minds, yet are they capable of such measures of Grace as shall preserve them sincere unto God.

2. Although Industry in any honest Calling be allowable, yet unless men labour to be Spiritually-minded in the exercise of that Industry, they have neither Life nor Peace. Hereunto all the things before mentioned, are necessary; I know not how any of them can be abated, yea more is required than is expressed in them. If you burn this Roll, another must be written, and many like things must be added unto it. And the Objection from the expence of Time in the Observance of them, is of no force. For a man may do as much work whil'st he is Spiritually minded, as whil'st he is Carnal. Spiritual Thoughts will no more hinder you in your Callings than those that are vain and earthly, which all sorts of men can find leisure for in the midst of their Employments. If you have filled a Vessel with Chaff, yet you may pour into it a great deal of water, which will be contained in the same space and Vessel. And if it be necessary that you should take in much of the Chaff of the world into your minds, yet are they capable of such measures of Grace as shall preserve them sincere unto God.

Fifthly, This frame will never be preserved, nor the Duties mentioned be ever performed in a due manner, unless we dedicate some part of our Time peculiarly unto them. I speak unto them only concerning whom I suppose that they do daily set apart some portion of Time unto holy duties, as Prayer and Reading of the Word, and they find by experience that it succeeds well with them. For the most part if they lose their Seasons, they lose their Duties. For some have complained, that the urgency of Business, and multiplicity of Occasions