The new birthThe nevv birth

So in the soul, it is likewise found, that the excessiveness of things lawful, and the unseasonableness of indifferent actions, doth sometimes little less annoy the souls welfare, then the committing of things sinful. Especially if a man do mistake, and account that thing lawful or indifferent, which is wicked and sinful; and hereupon out of his erroneous judgement, lay the reins upon the neck of his carnal desires: gross, known, confessed sins, do no more enfeeble the soul, and overthrow the quiet and strength of the inward man, then such licentiousness. The abuse (I say) of things in themselves lawful, through the untimely and immoderate doing of them, is exceeding perilous unto the soul; and often death is little less, then ready to enter in at this window. The over-eager following of worldly business, when a man, not out of obedience to Gods commandments, and out of a desire to humble himself by just painfulness in his calling: but out of a love of wealth, and a desire to grow rich and great in the world, doth set his thoughts and hands a work about the affairs of this life, so that he can scarce think or speak (with any life or comfort) of any other thing, then this earth; this greedy and continual pursuing of worldly businesses, though in themselves lawful, honest, and commendable doth vex the spirit, choke the word, dis-hallow the soul, offend God, and wound the conscience, no less then the committing ⟨p. 134⟩of fornication would do: for this is to commit spiritual whoredom with that grand harlot, the wicked world. Also the perpetual and unsatiable use of pleasures and pastimes (in themselves, it may be no way sinful nor condemnable), yet still pursued with an over-vehement affection to them, with an over-strong delight in them; when they be not used as means of maintaining our health, or fitting our selves for the works of our calling, and (indeed according as the name of recreations beareth) for the refreshing of the mind, and making it more lively and cheerful in better things; but are followed for their own sakes, out of a love of pastime (which is a childish, and too base a thing for a wise heart to be in love with), and when there is no conscionable regard had, of that rich and precious jewel of time (which no treasure can redeem):

So in the soule, it is likewise found, that the excessiuenesse of things lawfull, and the vnseasonablenesse of indifferent actions, doth sometimes little lesse annoy the soules welfare, then the committing of things sinfull. Especially if a man doe mistake, and account that thing lawfull or indifferent, which is wicked and sinfull; and hereupon out of his erroneous iudgement, lay the reynes vpon the necke of his carnall desires: grosse, knowne, confessed sinnes, doe no more infeeble the soule, and ouerthrow the quiet and strength of the inward man, then such licentiousnesse. The abuse (I say) of things in themselues lawfull, through the vntimely and immoderate doing of them, is exceeding perillous vnto the soule; and often death is little lesse, then ready to enter in at this window. The ouer-eager following of worldly businesse, when a man, not out of obedience to Gods commandements, and out of a desire to humble himselfe by iust painefulnesse in his calling: but out of a loue of wealth, and a desire to grow rich and great in the world, doth set his thoughts and hands a worke about the affaires of this life, so that hee can scarce thinke or speak (with any life or comfort) of any other thing, then this earth; this greedy and continuall pursuing of worldly businesses, though in themselues lawfull, honest, and commendable doth vexe the spirit, choak the word, dis-hallow the soule, offend God, and wound the conscience, no lesse then the committing