THE

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

I THINK it necessary to give the reader

a brief account of the nature and design of the following treatise, as it may direct him in the reading, and will be some kind of apology for myself in publishing it.

The thoughts here communicated, were originally private meditations, in a season when I was unable to do any thing for the edification of others, and far from expectation I ever should any more. When God was pleased to restore me, as I had received some benefit from this exercise of my thoughts, I insisted on the same subject in the instruction of my congregation; apprehending also, that the duties set forth and enforced in the whole discourse, were always seasonable to be declared, and urged on the minds of pro

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fessors. Leaving others to choose their own methods, I acknowledge these are the two things, by which I regulate the whole course of my ministry: to impart those TRUTHS, of whose power I hope to have had a real experience; and to press those DUTIES, which present temptations, or other circumstances, do render necessary and deserving peculiar attention. As in the general work of the ministry the whole counsel of God is to be declared, so we are never to fight uncertainly as men beating the air, nor shoot our arrows at random without a certain mark or design. A good knowledge of the flock, whereof we are overseers, and a due consideration of their wants, temptations, light, graces, strength, and weakness, are requisite: and when the preparation of the word to be preached, proceeds also from zeal for God's glory, and compassion on human souls; when it is delivered with the demonstration of a due reference unto God, whose word it is, and of authority towards the hearers, together with a deep sense of that great account, which both they who preach, and they that hear the word preached, must shortly give be

fore the judgment seat of Christ, THEN there may be a pleasing expectation of a blessed issue.

The first reason why I judged the preaching and publishing this plain discourse on SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS, not unseasonable at this time, is, the present importunity of the world to impose itself on the minds of men, and the various ways of insinuation, whereby it filleth them; and when the world fills the thoughts, the affections will be soon entangled, grace weakened, and the soul in danger of eternal ruin. Thoughts of the world and of earthly things are unavoidable and commendable, if their multiplicity and vehemence do not so divert the mind, as to leave it no room or time for the entertainment of spiritual things: but how many men talk, and act, as if the world, which comparatively is nothing, was their all! The world hath, as it were, transformed the mind into its own image and likeness, and when such persons, or any who are full of earthly affections, attend to or perform spiritual duties, it must be very difficult, if not impossible, for them to stir up any grace to a due

exercise; nor can the best of us be delivered at this season from so great an evil, without a watchful endeavour to preserve our minds, in the constant contemplation of heavenly things, proceeding from the prevalent adherence of the affections to them, as will soon appear.

Again, there are such pregnant evidences of the prevalency of a worldly frame of spirit, in many who make profession of religion, that it is high time they were called to a due consideration, how opposite they are to the power and spirit of that religion which they profess. Every way by which such a frame of spirit may be proved to prevail in the generality of professors, is manifest to all; in their affected ornaments and dress, in their manner of conversation, their waste of time, their over-liberal entertainments, bordering to excess, and in sundry other things, such a conformity to the world appears, (though severely forbidden,) that it is hard to make a distinction; and as these things manifest a predominancy of carnal affections in the mind, so, whatever may be pretended, they are inconsistent with spiritual life and peace.

To call men off from this evil frame of heart, to discover the sin and danger of it, to supply the thoughts and affections with better objects, to direct to ways and mens of effecting it, to discover and press that exercise of soul which is required of all professors, if they purpose life and peace, is the design and work of the following treatise; and however weak the attempt, it hath these two advantages-it is seasonable, and sincerely intended; nay, should this be its only success-to provoke others possessed of more time and greater abilities, to oppose the vehement and too successful insinuations of the world in the minds of professing Christians, my labour will not be lost. Things have come to that pass, that a more than ordinary vigorous exercise of the ministry of the word, and of other appointed means, is necessary to recal professors to that strict mortification, that separation from the ways of the world, that heavenly mindedness, that contemplation of spiritual things, and delight in them, which the gospel of Christ doth require; else we shall lose the glory of. our profession, and leave our eternal state