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

The Enquiry then before us, is by what Methods a Christian ought to address himself to battle, in this spiritual warfare, how he may so bid defiance to his enemies, as to daunt and vanquish them. Let these Rules therefore be observed for resisting and quelling thy lusts, and inordinate affections in their first Sallies, and in the commencement of the insurrection.

The Enquiry then before us, is by what Methods a Christian ought to address himself to battel, in this spiritual warfare, how he may so bid defiance to his enemies, as to daunt and vanquish them. Let these Rules therefore be observed for resisting and quelling thy lusts, and inordinate affections in their first Salleys, and in the commencement of the insurrection.

Rule. 1 Awe them with the authority of thy Reason, and understanding; it is infinitely unbeseeming a man, that his lower appetites should grow mutinous and untractable, that the [Greek or Hebrew], the inferior and brutish faculties of our souls, should rebel against the [Greek or Hebrew], that sovereign faculty of Reason; the Scythians are reported when their slaves took arms, to have dashed the sneaking rebels presently out of countenance, by showing their whips, that well known weapon. How soon doth the presence of a grave Magistrate allay a popular tumult if he comes in soon enough, in the beginning of the Riot. Ille regit dictis, animos & pectora mulcet. Virg. Aen. 1. God hath made Reason, the Magistrate of the little world, he hath given it a commission to keep the peace in our souls. And so far as our minds are illustrated, and governed by right reason, so far do they partake of the image of God, of whose glorious mind one of the best and clearest conceptions, we can have is, that it is infinite and eternal Reason. Do thy passions begin to rise in arms? do they grow disordered ⟨p. 99⟩and unruly? let thy reason come out to them, and ask whether they know their Master? And let thy soul blush, with infinite scorn, that ever these base slaves should usurp the throne of their rightful Lord, and unman thee, by deposing Reason which is all thou hast to show, that thou art not a beast. What an extreme silly thing is a man in passion? nothing can be more ridiculous and contemptible. Out of love and pity to thy self, O man, do not affront and disgrace thine immortal soul any more, by suffering any malapert and saucy passion to outrage and assassinate thy Reason, that was a generous Rule of Pythagoras— [Greek or Hebrew],