The Soul's Conflict with Itself

And there is good reason for it, for man is an understanding creature, and ¹hath a rule given him to live by, and therefore is to be countable of every thought, word, action, passion. Therefore the first way to quiet the soul, is, to ²ask a reason of the tumult raised, and then many of our distempers for shame will not appear, because (though they rage in silent darkness) yet they can say nothing for themselves, being summoned before strength of judgement and reason. Which is the reason why passionate men are loath that any court should be kept within them; but labour to stop judgement all they can. If men would but give themselves leave to ³consider better of it, they would never yield to such unreasonable motions of the soul: If they could but gain so much of their unruly passions, as to reason the matter within themselves, to hear what their consciences can tell them in secret, there would not be such offensive breakings out. And therefore, if we be ashamed to hear others ⟨p. 54⟩upbraiding us, let us for shame hear our selves; And if no reason can be given, what an unreasonable thing is it for a man endowed with reason to contrary his own principles? and to be carried as a beast without reason; or if there be ⁴any reason to be given, then, this is the way to scan it, see whether it will hold water or not. We shall find some reasons (if they may be so called) to be so corrupt and foul, that (if the judgement be not corrupted by them) they dare not be brought to light, but always appear under some colour and pretext, for sin (like the devil) is afraid to appear in its own likeness, and men seek out fair glosses, for foul intentions. The hidden secret reason is one, the open is another: the heart being corrupt sets the wit a work, to ⁵satisfy corrupt will; such kind of men are afraid of their own consciences (as Ahab of Michaiah) because they fear it would deal truly with them: and therefore they take either present order for their consciences, or else (as Felix put off Paul) they adjourn the