We cannot have too deep apprehensions of this breeding sin, the • there and nurse of all abominations, for the more we consider the height, the depth, the breadth, and length of it, the more shall we be humbled in our selves, and magnify the height, the 1depth, the breadth, and the length of Gods mercy in CHRIST. The favourers of nature are always the enemies of grace; This which some think and speak so weakly and faintly of, is a worse enemy to us then the devil ⟨p. 165⟩himself; a more near, a more restless, a more traitorous enemy, for by intelligence with it the Devil doth us all the hurt he doth, and by it maintains •orts in us against goodness. This is that which either by discouragement or contrariety hinders us from good; or else by deadness, tediousness, distractions, or corrupt aims hinders us in doing good, this putteth us on to evil, and abuseth what is good i• us, or from us, to cover or colour sin; and furnishes us with reasons either to maintain what is evil, or shifts to translate it upon false causes, or senses to arm us against whatsoever shall oppose us in our wicked ways: Though it neither can nor will be good, yet it would be thought to be so by others, and enforces a conceit upon it self that it is good. It imprisons and keeps down all light that may discover it, both within it self, and without it self, if it lie in its power: It flatters it self, and would have all the world flatter it too, which if it doth not, it frets; especially if it be ⟨p. 166⟩once discovered and crossed: hence comes all the plotting against goodness, that sin may reign without control. Is it not a lamentable case that man, who out of the very principles of nature cannot but desire happiness and abhor misery, yet should be in love with eternal misery in the causes of it, and abhor happiness in the ways that lead unto it? This showeth us what a wonderful deordination and disorder is brought upon mans nature; For every other creature is naturally carried to that which is helpful unto it, and shunneth that which is any way hurtful and offensive; Only man is in love with his own bane, and fights for those lusts that fight against his soul.
Wee cannot have too deepe apprehensions of this breeding sinne, the • ther and nurse of all abominations, for the more we consider the height, the depth, the breadth, and length of it, the more shall wee bee humbled in our selves, and magnifie the height, the 1depth, the breadth, and the length of Gods mercy in CHRIST. The favourers of nature are alwayes the enemies of grace; This which some think and speake so weakly and faintly of, is a worse enemy to us then the devill ⟨p. 165⟩himselfe; a more neere, a more restlesse, a more traiterous enemy, for by intelligence with it the Devill doth us all the hurt he doth, and by it maintaines •orts in us against goodnesse. This is that which either by discouragement or contrariety hinders us from good; or else by deadnesse, tediousnesse, distractions, or corrupt aimes hinders us in doing good, this putteth us on to evill, and abuseth what is good i• us, or from us, to cover or colour sinne; and furnishes us with reasons either to maintaine what is evill, or shifts to translate it upon false causes, or sences to arme us against whatsoever shall oppose us in our wicked waies: Though it neither can nor will be good, yet it would bee thought to be so by others, and enforces a conceit upon it selfe that it is good. It imprisons and keepes downe all light that may discover it, both within it selfe, and without it self, if it lie in its power: It flatters it selfe, and would have all the world flatter it too, which if it doth not, it frets; especially if it bee ⟨p. 166⟩once discovered and crossed: hence comes all the plotting against goodnesse, that sinne may reigne without controule. Is it not a lamentable case that man, who out of the very principles of nature cannot but desire happinesse and abhorre misery, yet should bee in love with eternall misery in the causes of it, and abhorre happinesse in the wayes that leade unto it? This sheweth us what a wonderfull deordination and disorder is brought upon mans nature; For every other creature is naturally carried to that which is helpfull unto it, and shunneth that which is any way hurtfull and offensive; Onely man is in love with his owne bane, and fights for those lusts that fight against his soule.
- 1Ephes. 3. 18
