The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

Having laid down these directions, by way of prevention against the time of conflict, to prepare the soul aforehand, that in the assault it may not be vanquished, I come now to a Christians behaviour in the fit, and paroxysm it self, when the lusts of the flesh are stirring, and the great Rule to be observed here, is this:

Having laid down these directions, by way of prevention against the time of conflict, to prepare the soul aforehand, that in the assault it may not be vanquished, I come now to a Christians behaviour in the fit, and paroxysme it selfe, when the lusts of the flesh are stirring, and the great Rule to be observed here, is this:

As soon as ever thou perceivest thine affections, and lusts begin to grow inordinate, and thy inferior appetites to rebel, take thy self to task forthwith, and resist them withal thy might. Do not stay a moment, delay is unutterably, dangerous: who but a mad man that sees the Stable or Barn hard by his dwelling-house just beginning to catch fire, would stand still, & say let it alone a little, I would see what will come of it; wo or three minutes indulgence to the flame, will embolden it without expecting his leave or permission any longer, to devour, and rage, and consume, and carry all before it in despite of his mightiest resistances; when a little at first might have saved that vast damage, which his folly and loitering hath occasioned. How contemptible were those fires at first, that in few hours have triumphed over stately Palaces, and turned sometimes vast Cities into heaps of dust and ashes? how small an infirmity and distemper neglected hath ushered in the most fatal sickness? and how often hath a trifling bruise or strain, bin preface to a Gangrene, and the pick of a pin, or thorn not looked after time enough, enforced the cutting off a leg, or arm, nay proved mortal, and uncurable? advantages to good, like Arithmetical progressions rise slowly, in fair and even intervals, but advantages to ill, like Geometrical, grow up presently from little to vast excesses. —Facilis descensus Averni. Sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras Hic labour, &c. Virg. Aen. 6. ⟨p. 98⟩