A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

How many frequent Ordinances? Is it because of conscience to God, they have a reverential fear of him, they dare not displease him? No, but only the Laws of the Land, or some outward constraint maketh them do so, it's not pure conscience: Thus also there are many devoted sons of Belial to all profaneness, that would with all their hearts ⟨p. 235⟩run into all excess of rioting, into drunkenness and uncleanness, but they dare not, they are kept off as a dog from the bone with a whip: All their desire is towards it, but the penalty and justice which the Civil Magistrate will inflict upon him, this maketh him forbear, it's far from any conscience towards God that doth restrain them: Oh then bewail the corruption of man in this kind! never in any duties carried out for conscience sake, never abstaining from sin for conscience sake, but because of punishment and the judgment of others. Therefore in private, though God seeth thee as well as if it were at the Market-cross, they can run into all lewdness: Oh if it were conscience to God, thou wouldst •ake heed of heart-sins, as well as of bodily, thou wouldst be afraid to sin in secret, as well as in public, because God is every where, and knoweth all things, and thou hast a conscience towards him! And no wonder if conscience be thus predominantly polluted in natural men, for even in the godly themselves, how often do they find proud, vain, self-seeking thoughts insinuate into them? So that it's not only out of conscience to God they do their best duties: Do not some vain-glorious thoughts like so many thieves secretly creep into the heart, and are ready to rob thee of thy treasure? It is true indeed, to the gracious heart these are a burden, and therefore with Abraham, they drive away these flies from the Sacrifice, yet they come again; They do Repellendo tenere, and tenendo repellere, as Tertullian in another case; they beat them back, and yet they hold them also: they strive with them, and yet embrace them: Thus many a sinful motion and vain thought, is like Bernard's unclean suggestion, which he found, Bland onerosa displicendo placens, and Placendo displicens, kindly troublesome, and coming in with a displeasing pleasure; Insomuch that the godly themselves find the weight of original corruption upon their consciences in this respect, even till their last hour;

How many frequent Ordinances? Is it because of conscience to God, they have a reverential fear of him, they dare not displease him? No, but only the Laws of the Land, or some outward constraint maketh them do so, it's not pure conscience: Thus also there are many devoted sonnes of Belial to all prophanenesse, that would with all their hearts