Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

Secondly, a Heart set upon any lust is unfit likewise to¹ bear any affliction. The Young man whose heart was upon his riches, could not endure to hear of selling all, and entering upon a poor and persecuted profession. First, Lusts are choice and dainty, they make the heart very delicate, and nice of any assaults. Secondly, they are very wilful, and set upon their own ends, therefore they are expressed by the name of concupiscence, and [Greek or Hebrew],² The wills of the flesh, and wilfulness is the ground of impatience. Thirdly, they are natural, and move strongly to their own point; they are a Body, and our very members; no marvel then if they be sensible of³ pain from afflictions, which are contrary unto nature. The stronger the water runs, the more will it roar and some upon any opposition: lust is like a furious beast enraged with the affliction, the chain that binds it. Fourthly, Lusts are very wise after a fleshly and sensual⁴ manner, and worldly wisdom is impatient of any stoppage or prevention of any affliction that crusheth and ⟨p. 109⟩disappoints it. Therefore the Apostle doth herein principally⁵ note the opposition between heavenly and carnal wisdom, that the one is meek, peaceable, and gentle, the other devilish and full of strife. Fifthly, Lusts are ^aproud, especially those that arise from abundance of the Creature, and pride being set upon by any affliction makes the heart break forth into ^bimpatience, debates, and stoutness against God; a proud heart grows harder by afflictions, as Metals or Clay after they have past through the furnace. It is said of ^c