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

To remember Scripture in the season, to have the Word of God in thy mind, when a temptation like Joseph's Mistress is soliciting of thee, this will cause, that no deadly thing shall hurt thee; for the word of God is a two edged sword. it's an hammer, it's fire, it's the sword of the Spirit, by it both the Devil, and all temptations are subdued, Christ overcame the Devil by Scripture. Now if that be not in thy memory, then it cannot be any ways serviceable to thee in the time of need. Exercise your memories therefore in the Scripture, and that not for memories sake, much less for ostentation, to show what a good memory you have above others, but for a practical and holy use; Treasure up such a place against thy drunkenness, thy whoredoms; Treasure up such a place against pride, earthliness and covetous desires; What a precious and excellent memory is that which is like a mine of gold, or an Apothecaries shop, that can from the Scripture presently fetch what Antidotes against sin, or cordials to revive that he pleaseth? And truly our memory should be filled up only with Scripture considerations. This is the cabinet and choice closet of thy soul; If a man should take his cabinet that was for jewels and precious stones, and fill it only with mud and dirt, would it not be exceeding great folly? No less is it, when thy memory is full of stories and merry tales, and in the mean while rememberest not what God saith in his Word, which would be so useful to thee for thy souls good, acknowledge then the goodness of God to thee in providing the Scriptures as an help to thy memory, and withal know that seeing the Spirit thought it necessary to commit them to writing, hereby is fully declared the pollution and sinfulness of thy memory; For in Heaven, when the memory will be fully sanctified and perfected, then there will be no more use of the Bible, we shall not then need to read the Scriptures to quicken up our minds, for all imperfection will then be done away.

To remember Scripture in the season, to have the Word of God in thy mind, when a temptation like Joseph's Mistress is soliciting of thee, this will cause, that no deadly thing shall hurt thee; for the word of God is a two edged sword. it's an hammer, it's fire, it's the sword of the Spirit, by it both the Devil, and all temptations are subdued, Christ overcame the Devil by Scripture. Now if that be not in thy memory, then it cannot be any waies serviceable to thee in the time of need. Exercise your memories therefore in the Scripture, and that not for memories sake, much lesse for ostentation, to shew what a good memory you have above others, but for a practical and holy use; Treasure up such a place against thy drunkennesse, thy whoredoms; Treasure up such a place against pride, earthlinesse and covetous desires; What a precious and excellent memory is that which is like a mine of gold, or an Apothecaries shop, that can from the Scripture presently fetch what Antidotes against sinne, or cordials to revive that he pleaseth? And truly our memory should be filled up only with Scripture considerations. This is the cabinet and choice closet of thy soul; If a man should take his cabinet that was for jewels and precious stones, and fill it only with mud and dirt, would it not be exceeding great folly? No lesse is it, when thy memory is full of stories and merry tales, and in the mean while rememberest not what God saith in his Word, which would be so usefull to thee for thy souls good, acknowledge then the goodnesse of God to thee in providing the Scriptures as an help to thy memory, and withall know that seeing the Spirit thought it necessary to commit them to writing, hereby is fully declared the pollution and sinfulnesse of thy memory; For in Heaven, when the memory will be fully sanctified and perfected, then there will be no more use of the Bible, we shall not then need to read the Scriptures to quicken up our minds, for all imperfection will then be done away.