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A Treatise on Earthly-Mindedness
Jeremiah Burroughs is one of the most beloved of the seventeenth-century English Puritans. In this important work, Burroughs shows from Scripture the great sin of thinking as the world thinks rather than thinking God’s thoughts after Him. Then, realizing that right conduct is the result of right thinking, Burroughs gives us more gems in the two bonus treatises offered here, A Heavenly Conversation and Walking with God.
The Puritans rightly discerned the relationship between a person’s doctrine and his or her walk before God and fellow man. May the Lord use these sermons to give us the same kind of discernment in our day. May we learn to think biblically, and then may we begin to act accordingly.
Table of
A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness
Foreword by R.C. Sproul
To the Reader
Chapter There is a great difference between a wicked man and a godly man. The one minds the earth; the other’s conversation is in heaven
Chapter Earthly-Mindedness Discovered in Nine Particulars
Chapter Six Evils of Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Eight Additional Evils of Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Five Things may be Wrought in an Earthly-Minded Man
Chapter Seven Reasons of Men’s Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Eleven Considerations to Take the Hearts of Men off of Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Five Directions How to Get Our Hearts Free From Earthly-Mindedness
A Heavenly Conversation
Chapter How Far the Examples of Godly Men Should Prevail With Us
Chapter What’s to be Done when Examples of Godly Men are Contrary?
Chapter Rebuke of Those that Follow the Example of the Wicked and Reject the Example of the Godly
Chapter Two Doctrines Observed From the Text
Chapter How the Saints are Citizens of Heaven
Chapter How the Saints Have Their Conversation in Heaven
Chapter The Saints’ Trading for Heaven
Chapter Seven Evidences of Men’s Having Their Conversation in Heaven
Chapter Four Reasons Why the Saints Have Their Conversations in Heaven
Chapter Use 1: To reprove such as have their conversations in hell
Chapter Use 2: To reprove hypocrites
Chapter Use 3: Let us not find fault with the strictness of God’s ways
Chapter Use 4: Let us not find fault with the strictness of God’s ways
Chapter A heavenly conversation is a convincing conversation
Chapter A heavenly conversation is growing
Chapter A heavenly conversation brings much glory to God
Chapter A heavenly conversation brings much glory to the saints
Chapter A heavenly conversation will make suffering easy
Chapter A heavenly conversation brings much joy
Chapter A Heavenly Conversation Is Very Safe
Chapter A Heavenly Conversation Gives Abundant Entrance into Glory
Chapter Seven Directions How to Get a Heavenly Conversation
Walking with God
Chapter The Text Opened
Chapter ‘Tis the excellency of a Christian to walk with God
Chapter How the Soul Is Brought to walk with God
Chapter What Walking With God Is
Chapter Twelve Distinct Excellencies of Walking With God
Chapter Five Uses of Exhortation in Walking With God
Chapter Evidences of Our Walking With God
Chapter Twelve Rules of Direction for Walking With God
Chapter An Objection Concerning God’s Hiding His Face Answered in Six Particulars
The Puritans rightly discerned the relationship between a person’s doctrine and his or her walk before God and fellow man. May the Lord use these sermons to give us the same kind of discernment in our day. May we learn to think biblically, and then may we begin to act accordingly.
Table of
A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness
Foreword by R.C. Sproul
To the Reader
Chapter There is a great difference between a wicked man and a godly man. The one minds the earth; the other’s conversation is in heaven
Chapter Earthly-Mindedness Discovered in Nine Particulars
Chapter Six Evils of Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Eight Additional Evils of Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Five Things may be Wrought in an Earthly-Minded Man
Chapter Seven Reasons of Men’s Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Eleven Considerations to Take the Hearts of Men off of Earthly-Mindedness
Chapter Five Directions How to Get Our Hearts Free From Earthly-Mindedness
A Heavenly Conversation
Chapter How Far the Examples of Godly Men Should Prevail With Us
Chapter What’s to be Done when Examples of Godly Men are Contrary?
Chapter Rebuke of Those that Follow the Example of the Wicked and Reject the Example of the Godly
Chapter Two Doctrines Observed From the Text
Chapter How the Saints are Citizens of Heaven
Chapter How the Saints Have Their Conversation in Heaven
Chapter The Saints’ Trading for Heaven
Chapter Seven Evidences of Men’s Having Their Conversation in Heaven
Chapter Four Reasons Why the Saints Have Their Conversations in Heaven
Chapter Use 1: To reprove such as have their conversations in hell
Chapter Use 2: To reprove hypocrites
Chapter Use 3: Let us not find fault with the strictness of God’s ways
Chapter Use 4: Let us not find fault with the strictness of God’s ways
Chapter A heavenly conversation is a convincing conversation
Chapter A heavenly conversation is growing
Chapter A heavenly conversation brings much glory to God
Chapter A heavenly conversation brings much glory to the saints
Chapter A heavenly conversation will make suffering easy
Chapter A heavenly conversation brings much joy
Chapter A Heavenly Conversation Is Very Safe
Chapter A Heavenly Conversation Gives Abundant Entrance into Glory
Chapter Seven Directions How to Get a Heavenly Conversation
Walking with God
Chapter The Text Opened
Chapter ‘Tis the excellency of a Christian to walk with God
Chapter How the Soul Is Brought to walk with God
Chapter What Walking With God Is
Chapter Twelve Distinct Excellencies of Walking With God
Chapter Five Uses of Exhortation in Walking With God
Chapter Evidences of Our Walking With God
Chapter Twelve Rules of Direction for Walking With God
Chapter An Objection Concerning God’s Hiding His Face Answered in Six Particulars
271 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1649
39 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Jeremiah Burroughs
127 books88 followersJeremiah Burroughs (or Burroughes) was baptized in 1601 and admitted as a pensioner at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1617. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1621 and a Master of Arts degree in 1624. His tutor was Thomas Hooker.
Burroughs’s ministry falls into four periods, all of which reveal him as a zealous and faithful pastor. First, from about 1627 until 1631, he was assistant to Edmund Calamy at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Both men became members of the Westminster Assembly. Both men strongly opposed King James’s Book of Sports. Both refused to read the king’s proclamation in church that dancing, archery, vaulting, and other games were lawful recreations on the Lord’s Day.
Second, from 1631 to 1636, Burroughs was rector of Tivetshall, Norfolk, a church that still stands today. Despite the best efforts of his patron, Burroughs was suspended in 1636 and deprived in 1637 for refusing to obey the injunctions of Bishop Matthew Wren, especially regarding the reading of the Book of Sports, and the requirements to bow at the name of Jesus and to read prayers rather than speak them extemporaneously.
Third, from 1638 to 1640, Burroughs lived in the Netherlands, where he was teacher of a congregation of English Independents at Rotterdam, formerly ministered by William Ames. William Bridge was the pastor and Sidrach Simpson had established a second like-minded church in the city. Thus, three future dissenting brethren were brought together, all of whom would serve as propagandists for congregationalism later in the 1640s.
In the final period from 1640 to his death in 1646, Burroughs achieved great recognition as a popular preacher and a leading Puritan in London. He returned to England during the Commonwealth period and became pastor of two of the largest congregations in London: Stepney and St. Giles, Cripplegate. At Stepney, he preached early in the morning and became known as “the morning star of Stepney.” He was invited to preach before the House of Commons and the House of Lords several times. Thomas Brooks called him “a prince of preachers.”
As a member of the Westminster Assembly, Burroughs sided with the Independents, but he remained moderate in tone, acting in accord with the motto on his study door: Opinionum varietas et opinantium unitas non sunt ασυστατα (“variety of opinion and unity of opinion are not incompatible”). Richard Baxter said, “If all the Episcopalians had been like Archbishop Ussher, all the Presbyterians like Stephen Marshall, and all the Independents like Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of the church would soon have been healed.”
In 1644, Burroughs and several colleagues presented to Parliament their Apologetical Narration, which defended Independency. It attempted to steer a middle course between Presbyterianism, which they regarded as too authoritarian, and Brownism, which they regarded as too democratic. This led to division between the Presbyterians and Independents. Burroughs served on the committee of accommodation, which tried to reconcile the differences, but on March 9, 1646, he declared on behalf of the Independents that presbyteries were “coercive institutions.” Burroughs said he would rather suffer or emigrate than submit to presbyteries. Ultimately, the division between Presbyterians and Independents helped promote the cause of prelacy after the death of Oliver Cromwell.
Burroughs pursued peace to the end. He died in 1646, two weeks after a fall from his horse. The last subject on which he preached became his Irenicum to the Lovers of Truth and Peace, an attempt to heal divisions between believers. Many of his friends believed that church troubles hastened his death.
Burroughs was a prolific writer, highly esteemed by Puritan leaders of his day, some of whom published his writings after his death. Nearly all of his books are compilations of sermons.
Burroughs’s ministry falls into four periods, all of which reveal him as a zealous and faithful pastor. First, from about 1627 until 1631, he was assistant to Edmund Calamy at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Both men became members of the Westminster Assembly. Both men strongly opposed King James’s Book of Sports. Both refused to read the king’s proclamation in church that dancing, archery, vaulting, and other games were lawful recreations on the Lord’s Day.
Second, from 1631 to 1636, Burroughs was rector of Tivetshall, Norfolk, a church that still stands today. Despite the best efforts of his patron, Burroughs was suspended in 1636 and deprived in 1637 for refusing to obey the injunctions of Bishop Matthew Wren, especially regarding the reading of the Book of Sports, and the requirements to bow at the name of Jesus and to read prayers rather than speak them extemporaneously.
Third, from 1638 to 1640, Burroughs lived in the Netherlands, where he was teacher of a congregation of English Independents at Rotterdam, formerly ministered by William Ames. William Bridge was the pastor and Sidrach Simpson had established a second like-minded church in the city. Thus, three future dissenting brethren were brought together, all of whom would serve as propagandists for congregationalism later in the 1640s.
In the final period from 1640 to his death in 1646, Burroughs achieved great recognition as a popular preacher and a leading Puritan in London. He returned to England during the Commonwealth period and became pastor of two of the largest congregations in London: Stepney and St. Giles, Cripplegate. At Stepney, he preached early in the morning and became known as “the morning star of Stepney.” He was invited to preach before the House of Commons and the House of Lords several times. Thomas Brooks called him “a prince of preachers.”
As a member of the Westminster Assembly, Burroughs sided with the Independents, but he remained moderate in tone, acting in accord with the motto on his study door: Opinionum varietas et opinantium unitas non sunt ασυστατα (“variety of opinion and unity of opinion are not incompatible”). Richard Baxter said, “If all the Episcopalians had been like Archbishop Ussher, all the Presbyterians like Stephen Marshall, and all the Independents like Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of the church would soon have been healed.”
In 1644, Burroughs and several colleagues presented to Parliament their Apologetical Narration, which defended Independency. It attempted to steer a middle course between Presbyterianism, which they regarded as too authoritarian, and Brownism, which they regarded as too democratic. This led to division between the Presbyterians and Independents. Burroughs served on the committee of accommodation, which tried to reconcile the differences, but on March 9, 1646, he declared on behalf of the Independents that presbyteries were “coercive institutions.” Burroughs said he would rather suffer or emigrate than submit to presbyteries. Ultimately, the division between Presbyterians and Independents helped promote the cause of prelacy after the death of Oliver Cromwell.
Burroughs pursued peace to the end. He died in 1646, two weeks after a fall from his horse. The last subject on which he preached became his Irenicum to the Lovers of Truth and Peace, an attempt to heal divisions between believers. Many of his friends believed that church troubles hastened his death.
Burroughs was a prolific writer, highly esteemed by Puritan leaders of his day, some of whom published his writings after his death. Nearly all of his books are compilations of sermons.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 6, 2018
Burroughs is a gifted writer ...regardless of the topic.
The book was jarring in that it gets the believer realizing how the mind & God must engage & do so often. Awareness of the world & worldly mindedness are clearly separated & the author goes through several lists of things the Christian can identify & begin to pray about in order to be more heavenly minded.
In my opinion, the last four chapters are worth the price of the book, they were exceedingly probing, particularly the portions dealing with those dark times when we feel God has forsaken or abandoned us.
I didn't give the book 5 stars because there were a few chapters in the middle that seemed to distract some from the focus of the book but overall it was very helpful!
The book was jarring in that it gets the believer realizing how the mind & God must engage & do so often. Awareness of the world & worldly mindedness are clearly separated & the author goes through several lists of things the Christian can identify & begin to pray about in order to be more heavenly minded.
In my opinion, the last four chapters are worth the price of the book, they were exceedingly probing, particularly the portions dealing with those dark times when we feel God has forsaken or abandoned us.
I didn't give the book 5 stars because there were a few chapters in the middle that seemed to distract some from the focus of the book but overall it was very helpful!
July 26, 2024
“Now, what should the life of a Christian be but a continual preparation for death?”
“A man cannot look up to heaven and down to earth both at the same time.”
“…in conversion is the resigning up of the soul to God as the Chief Good. The soul, upon the call of God, learns the lesson of self-denial and taking up the cross, and so being disengaged from the creature, now resigns itself to God as an infinite soul-satisfying good forever.”
“A man cannot look up to heaven and down to earth both at the same time.”
“…in conversion is the resigning up of the soul to God as the Chief Good. The soul, upon the call of God, learns the lesson of self-denial and taking up the cross, and so being disengaged from the creature, now resigns itself to God as an infinite soul-satisfying good forever.”
February 8, 2025
This is a short book about what it means to think on the things above, to keep your eyes upon Jesus and what is the opposite - earthly-mindedness. So prevalent today, but so bad for us, our souls and eternity.
Burroughs is an easy to understand puritan.
The thing I say about puritans - however long or short their works there is no diluting or dumbing down, every paragraph has a meaning and quotable thought. Nothing is fluff. So he won't waste your time, but will give you much to chew on.
Burroughs is an easy to understand puritan.
The thing I say about puritans - however long or short their works there is no diluting or dumbing down, every paragraph has a meaning and quotable thought. Nothing is fluff. So he won't waste your time, but will give you much to chew on.
February 20, 2025
Hope to read this again several more times in my earthly life.
January 29, 2024
Spiritual gold.
June 9, 2022
This evident series of sermons by the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs was, in Puritan style, a depthy look at a genre of temptation. The several sermons center on Philippians 3:19, which speaks of false teachers as those who "set their minds on earthly things."
There is an irony in the fact that almost every chapter includes a number ("Six Evils of Earthly-Mindedness," "Seven Reasons of Men's Earthly-Mindedness") while the book could not be more different than modern self-help books and blogs that tend toward numbers. Burroughs hunts out our earthly-mindedness with vigor and relentlessness, like a (I'm sure there is a better metaphor here) hawk circling its prey. His arguments are very reasonable, his illustrations are sticky. I still have in my mind the image of a man wading into the Thames a little at a time, until he is swept away by the current, just as we are numbed by worldliness and then overtaken by it.
Since these were sermons, the formatting and style are still in the form of speech rather than text. In one of the chapters, I could not find one of the items in his numbered list, for example, and he typically paraphrases cross references rather than quoting them. Still, the book is a worthwhile reminder that "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).
There is an irony in the fact that almost every chapter includes a number ("Six Evils of Earthly-Mindedness," "Seven Reasons of Men's Earthly-Mindedness") while the book could not be more different than modern self-help books and blogs that tend toward numbers. Burroughs hunts out our earthly-mindedness with vigor and relentlessness, like a (I'm sure there is a better metaphor here) hawk circling its prey. His arguments are very reasonable, his illustrations are sticky. I still have in my mind the image of a man wading into the Thames a little at a time, until he is swept away by the current, just as we are numbed by worldliness and then overtaken by it.
Since these were sermons, the formatting and style are still in the form of speech rather than text. In one of the chapters, I could not find one of the items in his numbered list, for example, and he typically paraphrases cross references rather than quoting them. Still, the book is a worthwhile reminder that "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).
December 11, 2020
This convicting and edifying book actually comprises several smaller books: A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness, A Heavenly Conversation, and Walking with God. (Note: by the word "conversation," the Puritans meant a person's conduct or manner of life.) Each of the books are simple, clear, well-organized, and carefully applied. I especially appreciated the chapters giving practical "directions"—i.e. "Five Directions How to Get Our Hearts Free from Earthly-Mindedness," "Seven Directions How to Get a Heavenly Conversation," and "Twelve Rules of Directions for Walking with God."
March 30, 2022
Que livro precioso!! Numa era em que muitos Cristões pregam o amor às coisas da terra (O tempora, o mores!), Jeremiah Burroughs é como uma voz de um amado conselheiro que coloca o nosso coração cuidadosamente no lugar.
Esse é o sentimento de ler esse livro - ouvir alguém que se importa com a minha alma me convidando a conhecer os meus próprios pecados. Esse livro foi escrito duas vezes: uma com a vida desse puritano, e outra com pena.
Estou no fim da tradução e da revisão desta obra!
Esse é o sentimento de ler esse livro - ouvir alguém que se importa com a minha alma me convidando a conhecer os meus próprios pecados. Esse livro foi escrito duas vezes: uma com a vida desse puritano, e outra com pena.
Estou no fim da tradução e da revisão desta obra!
April 7, 2023
A convicting encouragement to draw intimately close to God. To delight in him above all else and walk continually with him. I highly recommend this work and echo R.C. Sproul's comment: It is far too important to be ignored!
January 18, 2024
Three blessed treatises in one book: A Treatise of Earthly- Mindedness, Conversing in Heaven and Walking with God. Burroughs labors to help us all set our hearts on that which is real, lovely and enduring, namely Christ.
October 31, 2017
Fantastic read, highly recommended.
May 12, 2023
A short and sweet reminder to pursue heavenly-mindedness before earthly pleasures.
August 4, 2025
struggled to connect the dots with this one. It needs more than one chapter on the more practical side of how to resist earthly mindedness but was still well written.
October 8, 2023
This should be required reading! My heart still delights in earthly things rather than the loving, gracious presence of Jesus, so I am trying to take all this to heart. This brief publication from a puritan makes it clear that seeking earthly things is the essence of idolatry. But it's nothing that Jesus didn't already tell us (Matt 6:19-34) or Paul (Col 3:1-8) or John (1 John 2:15-17). But it seems like 99% of professing Christians do everything they can to try to violate these commands: Do not store up treasures on earth. Do not set your mind on earthly things. Do not love the world. My heart is still stuck in the tar pit of selfishness too, so please don't think I'm trying to be sanctimonious. We all need help. We need a miracle.
This is a free resource on monergism.com and podcast. Please listen.
This is a free resource on monergism.com and podcast. Please listen.
September 7, 2016
I read and found no joy in this book. The joy of the Lord is our strength and all I read in this book was condemnation and constant focus on oneself rather than on Jesus Christ.
As I read this book I found no joy in it. The joy of the Lord is our strength and all I got from this book was condemnation and a constant focus on oneself rather than on our Savior Jesus Christ. I am accepted in the Beloved and His finished work. I rest in Him not my thoughts for His are higher and He has given me His thoughts. If I had this years ago I would have once again returned to trying to add to my salvation by what I do and by my own strength.
As I read this book I found no joy in it. The joy of the Lord is our strength and all I got from this book was condemnation and a constant focus on oneself rather than on our Savior Jesus Christ. I am accepted in the Beloved and His finished work. I rest in Him not my thoughts for His are higher and He has given me His thoughts. If I had this years ago I would have once again returned to trying to add to my salvation by what I do and by my own strength.
February 24, 2014
Lovely book by a Puritan pastor seeking to convince the reader to focus less on the things of this world, and more on the things of God. The style reminded me of "The Pilgrim's Progress." The book was somewhat repetitive, but it had an excellent message, and was very accessible.
September 13, 2014
While this at first glance may seem extreem in these times of consumerism, it does make one consider what one is putting in the place of communication, quality time and heart position position put towards God. I thank God for his grace but at the same time I pray that we do not abuse it.
November 1, 2015
Another great book by one of the Puritans
A reminder to set our minds, our time, our efforts and our concerns on the eternal things of Christ. So little time we have here on earth. There is certainly none to waste on things that have no lasting meaning or purpose.
A reminder to set our minds, our time, our efforts and our concerns on the eternal things of Christ. So little time we have here on earth. There is certainly none to waste on things that have no lasting meaning or purpose.
December 3, 2013
Exceptional in all aspects !!
August 6, 2016
Started off strong. Left me wishing there was more than one chapter on how to combat earthly-mindedness.
January 22, 2016
This will challenge your attachment to earthly delights and treasures. Although I do not agree with everything he espouses, it is edifying.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews