A treatise of mans imaginations Showing his natural evil thoughtsA treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts

Sect. 3. The fruit of this want of good thoughts.

Here further we must know that this want of good consideration is a grievous evil and a mother sin, from whence as from a fountain, streams of corruptions and transgressions both of heart and life do issue forth; first, hereby we are disabled from yielding unto God that obedience of heart which his law requireth; for how can we love the Lord with all our thought and mind; & our neighbour as our selves, as Godⁿ commandeth, when as naturally our hearts are void of all good thoughts towards God, and towards our neighbours? Again, whence comes sinning with an high ⟨p. 157⟩hand, when men sin, and will sin? whence comes it that men bless themselves in their sins, and flatter themselves in their own eyes, while they go on in sin, but from want of consideration of Gods presence, and of Gods judgements? This Abraham knew well, and therefore said of the people of Gerar, because ^othey wanted the fear of God, that is, all consideration of Gods presence, and of Gods judgements, therefore they would kill him for his wives sake. Whence also comes that sensuality, whereby men addict them-selves wholly to the profits, pleasures, and honours of this world, never minding heaven or hell, but from want of consideration of their duty to ⟨p. 158⟩God? If men did use to call themselves to account for their sins, or did set before their eyes the judgements of God due unto them, it could not be that there should be such want of contrition towards God, or of compassion towards their brethren, as every where abounds. And the like might be said of many other capital sins, all which proceed from the want of good consideration. Where, by the way, we may observe, that our common people do far deceive themselves in this persuasion of themselves, that by nature they have good hearts, and good meaning: If you charge them with the sins of their lives, they will straightway plead their good intention, and