It is a very great fault amongst a very great part of Christians, that in their inquiries of religion, even the best of them ordinarily ask but these two questions, “Is it lawful? Is it necessary?” If they find it lawful, they will do it without scruple or restraint; and then they suffer imperfection, or receive the reward of folly: for it may be lawful, and yet not fit to be done.

And as great an error is on the other hand in the other question. He that too strictly inquires of an action whether it be necessary or [not], would do well to ask also whether it be good: whether it be of advantage to the interest of his soul?

If a Christian will do no more than what is necessary, he will quickly be tempted to omit something of that also.

—Jeremy Taylor, Unum Necessarium

I appreciate Taylor’s disdain for bean counting in whatever form it takes when it comes to living a Christian life. If we resort to bean counting, we really have no life at all, let alone abundant life.