The Soul's Conflict with Itself

5. And it were best to prevent ¹(as much as in us lieth) the very first risings, before the soul be overcast; Passions are but little motions at the first, but grow as Rivers do, greater and greater, the further they are carried ⟨p. 130⟩from their Spring. The first risings are the more to be looked unto, because there is most danger in them, and we have least care over them. Si• like rust, or a Canker, will by little a• little eat out all the graces of the soul There is no staying when we are once down the hill till we come to the bottom. No sin but is easier kept out, t• driven out. If we cannot prevent wicked thoughts, yet we may deny them lodging in our hearts. It is our giving willing entertainment to sinful motions, that increaseth guilt, and hinder• our peace. It is that which moveth God to give us up to a further degree of evil affections. Therefore what we are afraid to do before men, we should be afraid to think before God. It would much further our peace to keep our judgements clear, as being the eye of the soul, whereby we may discern in every action and passion, what is good, and what is evil: as likewise to preserve rendernesse of heart, that may check us at the first, and not brook the least evil being discovered. When ⟨p. 131⟩the heart begins once to be kindled, it is easy to smother the smoke of passion, which otherwise will fume up into the head, and gather into so thick a cloud, as we shall lose the sight of our selves, and what is best to be done. And therefore David here labours to take up his heart at the first; his care was to crush the very first insurrections of his soul, before they came to break forth into open rebellion; storms we know rise out of little gusts. Little risings neglected, cover the soul before we are aware. If we would check these risings and stifle them in their birth, they would not break out afterwards to the reproach of Religion, to the scandal of the weak, to the offence of the strong, to the grief of Gods Spirit in us, to the disturbance of our own spirits in doing good, and to the disheartening of us in troubling of our inward peace, and thereby weakening our assurance. Therefore let us stop beginnings as much as may be; and so soon as they begin to rise, let us begin to examine what raised them, and