A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Corruption; this is the Tumour; morbus epidemicus, an universal disease. All flesh hath corrupted their ways. This monster is not coagulated all at once: but Gradatim spargere vires; Prorsus & ex multis unum coalescere morbum. Stone after stone, ⟨p. 82⟩Babel is builded: stick after stick, the burning pile is made up: from the confluence of many diseases, ariseth death.

Corruption; this is the Tumour; morbus epidemicus, an universall disease. All flesh hath corrupted their waies. This monster is not coagulated all at once: but Gradatim spargere vires; Prorsus & ex multis unum coalescere morbum. Stone after stone, ⟨p. 82⟩Babel is builded: sticke after sticke, the burning pile is made up: from the confluence of many diseases, ariseth death.

First, it gets into the thoughts; that the^p Imaginations of the heart are evil. This we think little danger; but when it hath got the Citadel, it commands all the sconces, and forts, and guards. The Heart is a Castle, the outward senses are the gates, when it hath got into the castle. The watchmen were to blame, that let the enemy in. Turpius ejicitur, quàm non admittitur hospes. These be Partus mentis, Primogeniti Aegypti: if thou canst not hinder the conception of sin, but it must be borne: yet like the midwives of Egypt, dispatch it betimes, lest it dispatch thee.^q For lust when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Spare not the little Babylonians, lest they one day grow great enough to vanquish Israel. Kill the young wolves, and secure thy flock: destroy the brood of the viper; let it never come to this, I would I had prevented it. Sin is easily committed in act, if admitted in thought. Labour first to purge thy heart from this corruption: let not thy vain thoughts lodge within thee,