Their Causes are either Natural or Moral. Natural, from the different Temperaments of Mens Bodies and Connection of their Passions. These be the secret Springs of special Inclinations and Aversions. It is true, corrupted Nature includes all Sin. But ⟨p. 5⟩there is not an equal inclination in every person unto all Sin. In waste Ground some Weeds be ranker than others, from the quality of the Soil: And in the Lives of Men, some Sins be more predominant than others, by reason of peculiar Dispositions. For bodily Dispositions incline the Soul. We see Men of Sanguine Constitutions are usually light and vain, sensual and riotous, bold and aspiring. Men of Phlegmatic Constitutions be idle and slow, cold and careless in things of moment. Men of Melancholic ones are suspicious, sour, and not easy to be sntreated, jealous, and often revengeful. And Choleric Constitutions of Body, make men heady, various, violent, troublesome to themselves and others. Moreover, vicious Affections run in several Channels, according unto the alterations made in Bodies in Mens several Ages. The Spring of corrupt Nature is still the same; but the Course ⟨p. 6⟩is different. Youth is carnal, presumptuous, easy to be deceived, and refractory to Reason. Middle Age is of cooler Passions, covetous, ambitious, turned unto more solemn and less scandalous Follies than those of Youth. Old Age has its peculiar Vices; it is querulous, impatient, covetous, vainly fearful of contempt or want. Now according to our Constitutions and Ages, we must make our enquiry for our Own Sin.
Their Causes are either Natural or Moral. Natural, from the different Temperaments of Mens Bodies and Connexion of their Passions. These be the secret Springs of special Inclinations and Aversions. It is true, corrupted Nature includes all Sin. But ⟨p. 5⟩there is not an equal inclination in every person unto all Sin. In waste Ground some Weeds be ranker than others, from the quality of the Soil: And in the Lives of Men, some Sins be more predominant than others, by reason of peculiar Dispositions. For bodily Dispositions incline the Soul. We see Men of Sanguine Constitutions are usually light and vain, sensual and riotous, bold and aspiring. Men of Phlegmatick Constitutions be idle and slow, cold and careless in things of moment. Men of Melancholick ones are suspicious, soure, and not easie to be sntreated, jealous, and often revengeful. And Cholerick Constitutions of Body, make men heady, various, violent, troublesome to themselves and others. Moreover, vicious Affections run in several Channels, according unto the alterations made in Bodies in Mens several Ages. The Spring of corrupt Nature is still the same; but the Course ⟨p. 6⟩is different. Youth is carnal, presumtuous, easie to be deceived, and refractory to Reason. Middle Age is of cooler Passions, covetous, ambitious, turned unto more solemn and less scandalous Follies than those of Youth. Old Age has its peculiar Vices; it is querelous, impatient, covetous, vainly fearful of contempt or want. Now according to our Constitutions and Ages, we must make our enquiry for our Own Sin.
