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

For the examination of our hearts touching this bad thought;¹ After due trial we shall find, that the minds of most among us, are possessed herewith: for we are indeed content to come into the assemblies where God is worshipped, and we do submit our selves to the ministry of the word to be taught and instructed: Therein we have ⟨p. 67⟩our own personal sins displayed, and reproved, and withal very fearful and terrible curses of the law denounced against us for the same, both judgments in this life, judgements in death, and also judgements eternal after this life: Now let the conscience answer, what is the cause when we hear these things, that we be not moved, why are not our hearts touched with grief and sadness, when we hear Gods judgments due unto us for our sins daily denounced against us? Some indeed there be whose hearts tremble at the word, but small is that number: If a man run thorough the streets, and cry fire, fire, our hearts are suddenly stricken with great ⟨p. 68⟩fear: but the minister of god, may stand and cry fire, fire, the fire of hell which is^a kindled by the breath of the Lord like a river of Brimstone as the Prophet speaketh, and yet mens hearts are nothing moved: what is the cause that we should be so affected with the burning of an old house by temporal fire, and be not afraid at the voice of God, which proclameth unto us eternal burning, with the fire of Gods wrath? Surely the cause is this, our hearts are forestalled with this false imagination that the curses of the law are foolishness, and that there be no such torments as the world denounceth; It will not sink into the heart of a natural man that his sins are so heinous, and Gods ⟨p. 66⟩judgements so terrible against them, as the word maketh them: And till such time as this damnable thought be taken away, mens hearts will never be touched with the threatenings of the law; this is a bar to stop the way to all such passions as the law would work.

For the examination of our hearts touching this badde thought;