The Christian in Complete Armour

Secondly, a gracious heart pursues earthly things with a holy indifferency, saving the violence and zeal of his spirit for the things of heaven; he useth the former as if he used them not, with a kind of non-attendency, his head and heart is taken up with higher matters, how he may please God, thrive in his grace, enjoy more intimate communion with Christ in his Ordinances, in these he spreads all his sails, plies all his oars, strains every part and power: thus we find David upon his full speed; My soul presseth hard after thee, Psal. 63. And before the Ark we find him dancing with all his might. Now a carnal heart is clean contrary, his zeal is for the world, and his indifferency in the things of God, he prays as if he did not pray, &c. he sweats in his shop, but chills and grows cold in his closet; O how hard to pulley him up to a duty of Gods worship, or to get him out to an Ordinance? No weather shall keep him from the market; rain, blow or snow he goes thither; but if the Church-path be a little wet, or the air somewhat cold, 'tis apology enough for him if his pew be empty; when he is about any worldly business, he is as earnest at it, as the idolatrous Smith in hammering of his image; who (the Prophet saith) worketh it with the strength of his arms, yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth, he drinketh not, and is faint, Isa. 44.12. so zealous is the muck-worm in his worldly employments, that he will pinch his carcass, and deny himself his repast in due season to pursue that; The Kitchen there shall wait on the shop: But in the worship of God, 'tis enough to make him sick of the Sermon, and angry with the Preacher, if he be kept beyond his hour; here the Sermon must give place to the Kitchen: so the man for his pleasures and carnal pastime, he tells no clock at his sports, and knows not how the day goes; when night comes, he is angry that it takes him off; but at any heavenly work, O how is the man punished? time now hath got leaden heels he thinks; all he does at a Sermon is to tell the clock, and see how the glass runs: if men were not willing to deceive themselves, surely they might know which way their heart goes by the swift motion, or the hard tugging and slow pace it stirs, as well as they know in a boat, whether they row against the tide, or with it.

Secondly, a gracious heart pursues earthly things with a holy indifferency, saving the violence and zeal of his spirit for the things of heaven; he useth the former as if he used them not, with a kinde of non-attendency, his head and heart is taken up with higher matters, how he may please God, thrive in his grace, enjoy more intimate communion with Christ in his Ordinances, in these he spreads all his sailes, plyes all his oares, strains every part and power: thus we finde David upon his full speed; My soul presseth hard after thee,