The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

For these passions lie so open to the assault of objects (having the senses for their inlet, and the moveable spirits for their seat or instruments) that even when the Will commands them one way, an object may force them in part against the Wills command, as we find sensibly in cases of fear, and sorrow or anger, which we can force a man to whether he will or no. And if there be no contradicting object, yet cannot the Will excite these passions to what height it shall command. For their motion depends as much (and more) on the lively manner of representing the Object, and the working nature and weight of the object represented, and upon the heat and nobility of the spirits, and temperature of the body, as upon the command of the Will. 4. Much less can the Will command out all vicious habits and sensual or corrupt inclinations: and therefore a true Christian may well say in respect of these, that he would be more holy, heavenly and ⟨p. 260⟩disposed to good, and less to evil, but he cannot. 5. As for complacency and displacency, liking or disliking, love and hatred, so far as they are passions, I have spoke of them before: but so far as they are the immediate acts of the Will (Willing and Nilling) they are not properly said to be commanded by it, but elicit, or acted by it: (wherein how far it hath power is a most noble Question; but unfit for this place or your capacity.) And thus you see that there are many Acts of the Soul, beside Habits, which the Will cannot now perfectly command, and so a Christian cannot be what he would be, nor do the things that he would: And these are the first sort of sins of Infirmity.

For these passions lie so open to the assault of objects (having the senses for their inlet, and the moveable spirits for their seat or instruments) that even when the Will commands them one way, an object may force them in part against the Wils command, as we finde sensibly in cases of fear, and sorrow or anger, which we can force a man to whether he will or no. And if there be no contradicting object, yet cannot the Will excite these passions to what height it shall command. For their motion depends as much (and more) on the lively manner of representing the Object, and the working nature and weight of the object represented, and upon the heat and nobility of the spirits, and temperature of the body, as upon the command of the Will. 4. Much less can the Will command out all vicious habits and sensual or corrupt inclinations: and therefore a true Christian may well say in respect of these, that he would be more holy, heavenly and