Doct. 4 Our wretched nature is never so forward unto 1any thing, as unto that which is sinful and utterly unlawful. All men are naturally exceeding slack in attempting & executing that which ⟨p. 142⟩is good: but very swift in setting upon, and going through with, that which is evil. Therefore is it said of all the sons of Adam without exception, that their feet are swift to shed blood. Many there2 are, who if they should be pressed to fight in lawful war for God and their country, would be fearful and dastardly, and if they could with any credit or safety, they would betake them to their heels: and yet the same men in a private quarrel, or in robbing by the high ways side, or in stealing somewhat out of their neighbours grounds, will be very forward and swift to shed blood. Again, there are divers that are exceeding slow in going to a Sermon, or to any such holy exercise, or service: but to run to a Bullbaiting, or a Bear-baiting, or to a Whitsun-ale, none shall rise more early, nor hasten more speedily then they▪ Examples will make this point yet more clear. When Nebuchadnezzar was minded to pass an unjust sentence of death upon the Chaldeans and Astrologians, for that they could not3 bring to his mind his dream, which he himself had forgotten, he made great speed in the matter, in so much that he adjudged all to die, not only those that had bin examined, but all such as were of that profession, yea not only those that were Sorcerers and Conjurers indeed, but Daniel and his companions, that were but only supposed to be such, whereas they did in truth abhor all those unlawful and devilish Arts. If it had bin some matter tending to Gods glory, or the good of his ⟨p. 143⟩Church, he would not have been so ready to yield unto it, and if such a sentence had been past, there would have been many objections and oppositions, so that the execution thereof would hardly have followed so speedily, as this here did, in which regard Daniel taketh exception against it, saying, Why is the sentence so hasty from the King? The like forwardness was there in the unbelieving Israelites unto the foul and abominable4 sin of Idolatry: Moses had laboured much to persuade them to make a covenant with God, and to cleave unto him in faithful and constant obedience;
Doct. 4 OVr wretched nature is neuer so forward vnto 1any thing, as vnto that which is sinfull and vtterly vnlawfull. All men are naturally exceeding slack in attempting & executing that which ⟨p. 142⟩is good: but very swift in setting vpon, and going through with, that which is euill. Therefore is it said of all the sonnes of Adam without exception, that their feete are swift to shed bloud. Many there2 are, who if they should be prest to fight in lawfull warre for God and their countrie, would be fearfull and dastardly, and if they could with any credit or safetie, they would betake them to their heeles: and yet the same men in a priuate quarrell, or in robbing by the high waies side, or in stealing somewhat out of their neighbours grounds, will be very forward and swift to shed blood. Againe, there are diuers that are exceeding slow in going to a Sermon, or to any such holy exercise, or seruice: but to runne to a Bullbaiting, or a Beare-baiting, or to a Whitson-ale, none shall rise more early, nor hasten more speedily then they▪ Examples will make this point yet more cleere. When Nebuchadnezzar was minded to passe an vniust sentence of death vpon the Caldeans and Astrologians, for that they could not3 bring to his minde his dreame, which he himself had forgotten, he made great speed in the matter, in so much that hee adiudged all to die, not onely those that had bin examined, but all such as were of that profession, yea not onely those that were Sorcerers and Coniurers indeed, but Daniel and his companions, that were but only supposed to be such, whereas they did in truth abhor all those vnlawfull and diuellish Arts. If it had bin some matter tending to Gods glory, or the good of his ⟨p. 143⟩Church, hee would not haue been so readie to yeeld vnto it, and if such a sentence had been past, there would haue been many obiections and oppositions, so that the execution thereof would hardly haue followed so speedily, as this heere did, in which regard Daniel taketh exception against it, saying, Why is the sentence so hastie from the King? The like forwardnesse was there in the vnbeleeuing Israelites vnto the foule and abominable4 sin of Idolatrie: Moses had laboured much to perswade them to make a couenant with God, and to cleaue vnto him in faithfull and constant obedience;
- 1All men are naturally most prone unto evil.All men are naturally most prone vnto euill.
- 2Rom. 3. 15.
- 3Dan. 2. 14.
- 4Exod. 32. 3.
