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

Fourthly, The pollution of our memory is seen, In that it is made subservient to the corrupt frame and inclination of our hearts. We remember what our hearts are set upon, what our affections are earnest for, whereas our memory should precede and go before them, for the intellective memory is the same with the mind and understanding of a man; for although to remember be not properly an act of knowledge, yet this intellective memory we make the same with the mind of a man, as it extends to things that are past. The memory then is to make way for the heart and the affections, to be directive to them, whereas now for the most part it is made a slave to the corrupt heart; for if the understanding in it all's hegemonical, and primary actions hath lost its power, how much more is this true in the memory? For the most part therefore the badness of the heart makes a bad memory, and a good heart a good memory; men complain they cannot remember, when indeed they will not remember; their hearts are so possessed and enslaved to earthly things, that they remember nothing but what tendeth thereunto: This is the ground of that saying, Omnia quae curant senes meminerunt, Old men remember all things, their hearts are let upon, all things, they do earnestly regard; They can remember their bonds, the place where their money lieth, because their hearts are fixed upon these things, but no holy or good things can lodge in their memories: The rule is, Frigus est mater obiivionis, Coldness is the mother of oblivion, as is partly seen in old men; and thus it is even in old and young, their hearts are cold, earthly, lumpish, even like stones about holy things, and therefore it is no wonder if they remember them no better; so that we may generally conclude, That the cause of all they blockishness and forgetfulness about divine things, is thy sinful and corrupt heart, if that were better thy memory would be better. We have a notable place, Jer. 2. 32. Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Can a bride forget her attire and ornament? it is impossible, because her delight and affections are upon it, but (saith God) My people have forgotten me, days without number. Why so?

Fourthly, The pollution of our memory is seen, In that it is made subservient to the corrupt frame and inclination of our hearts. We remember what our hearts are set upon, what our affections are earnest for, whereas our memory should precede and go before them, for the intellective memory is the same with the mind and understanding of a man; for although to remember be not properly an act of knowledge, yet this intellective memory we make the same with the mind of a man, as it extends to things that are past. The memory then is to make way for the heart and the affections, to be directive to them, whereas now for the most part it is made a slave to the corrupt heart; for if the understanding in it all's hegemonical, and primary actions hath lost its power, how much more is this true in the memory? For the most part therefore the badness of the heart makes a bad memory, and a good heart a good memory; men complain they cannot remember, when indeed they will not remember; their hearts are so possessed and inslaved to earthly things, that they remember nothing but what tendeth thereunto: This is the ground of that saying, Omnia quae curant senes meminerunt, Old men remember all things, their hearts are let upon, all things, they do earnestly regard; They can remember their bonds, the place where their money lieth, because their hearts are fixed upon these things, but no holy or good things can lodge in their memories: The rule is, Frigus est mater obiivionis, Coldness is the mother of oblivion, as is partly seen in old men; and thus it is even in old and young, their hearts are cold, earthly, lumpish, even like stones about holy things, and therefore it is no wonder if they remember them no better; so that we may generally conclude, That the cause of all they blockishness and forgetfullness about divine things, is thy sinfull and corrupt heart, if that were better thy memory would be better. We have a notable place,