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

Yea the godly themselves find in part this pollution upon their memory. Whence arise those carnal fears, those dejected thoughts, Is it not because you forget the greatness and goodness of God? Bewail thy memory-sinfulness, as well as other sins.

Yea the godly themselves finde in part this pollution upon their memory. Whence arise those carnal feares, those dejected thoughts, Is it not because you forget the greatnesse and goodnesse of God? Bewail thy memory-sinfulnesse, as well as other sins.

2. As the Scripture prescribes the object of our memory (viz) God himself, so it doth instance in one time more then at another; Though at all times God is to be remembered, yet in one time of our age, though there be greatest cause, yet our lusts and desire after other things do greatly hebetate our memory; We have the injunction from Solomon himself, Eccl 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth; Here you see who is to be remembered, & when he is to be remembered, God is to be remembered, and that in the time of our youth, But do not the strong effects of original sin heightened also by actual sins discover herein most palpable impiety in young persons, they remember their lusts, their pleasures in the days of their youth, and God is never in all their thoughts: Oh where may we find a young Timothy, that was acquainted with the Scripture from his infancy! Where an Obadiah, That feared God from the youth? Do not most young persons live so negligently about holy things, as if they were allowed to be dissolute, as if the things of Heaven and eternity did not belong to them, as if Solomon had said the contrary, Do not remember God in the days of thy youth, be not so strict and precise, but follow thy pastimes and pleasures? Thus the very memory of God and holy things is a burden to young persons; They think Solomon spake far better, Chap. 11. 9. when he saith, Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, let thy heart cheer thee, and walk in the ways of thy heart, remove sorrow and evil away; They like this well; This is good, but there is a sting in that which followeth, Know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement; This will quickly damp all thy youthful jollities. Let then young persons especially bewail the sinfulness and forgetfulness of their memory herein; This is the best and most flourishing time for your memory, now it is put upon