Eve then was tempted to sin, although she had no corrupt principles within her, merely because the bait laid for her, was suitable to her sense and affections: how much more then do affections like so many thieves open all the doors, and let iniquity come in every where, when reason and grace have no command over them. Sit down then and well consider this particular, That thy affections do first betray thee, Thy ruin doth begin in them, and therefore whosoever would keep any sin from taking the Castle of the soul, he must watch over his affections, he must be sure to put out every spark of their fire (as it were) Job made a covenant with his eyes, because they would quickly carry sin to the affections, Ut vidi, perii said he, from seeing he came to perish, but that was from seeing he came to be affected with the object, and so perished. This is notably expressed, Jos. 7. 20. 21, When Achan was tempted to steal the Babylonish garment, he acknowledged that when he saw them, that he coveted them, and coveting of them made him steal them; we may then conclude that there is scarce any sin committed by thee, but thy corrupt affections do begin it, the frame (as it were) is first laid there, all bodily sins of drunkenness and uncleanness; It is plain, that they are the product of sinful affections, sinful love, sinful desires, sinful joys, and pleasures are the puddle, (as it were) wherein these vermin are bred: That as in muddy lakes, frogs, ⟨p. 344⟩and toads are produced, thus it is in these gross and polluted affections, and it is no wonder that these come out from the affections, seeing the sins of the more noble rational part are also procreated by these corrupt affections; Heresies and Idolatry, these are sins of the understanding, yet they arise from sinful and inordinate affections; The rushes grow in such miry places, men seek after profit, applause, or other carnal advantages, and thus these are like a bribe to blind the eyes of wisdom; so that it behooveth every one in the way of Religion that he professeth, to consider, whether they be pure conscientious grounds, or corrupt affections that instigate therein:
Eve then was tempted to sinne, although she had no corrupt principles within her, meerly because the bait laid for her, was sutable to her sense and affections: how much more then do affections like so many thieves open all the doors, and let iniquity come in every where, when reason and grace have no command over them. Sit down then and well consider this particular, That thy affections do first beatray thee, Thy ruin doth begin in them, and therefore whosoever would keep any sinne from taking the Castle of the soul, he must watch over his affections, he must be sure to put out every spark of their fire (as it were) Job made a covenant with his eyes, because they would quickly carry sinne to the affections, Vt vidi, perii said he, from seeing he came to perish, but that was from seeing he came to be affected with the object, and so perished. This is notably expressed, Jos. 7. 20. 21, When Achan was tempted to steal the Babylonish garment, he acknowledged that when he saw them, that he coveted them, and coveting of them made him steal them; we may then conclude that there is scarce any sinne committed by thee, but thy corrupt affections do begin it, the frame (as it were) is first laid there, all bodily sinnes of drunkenness and uncleaness; It is plain, that they are the product of sinful affections, sinful love, sinful desires, sinful joyes, and pleasures are the puddle, (as it were) wherein these vermin are bred: That as in muddy lakes, frogs, ⟨p. 344⟩and toads are produced, thus it is in these gross and polluted affections, and it is no wonder that these come out from the affections, seeing the sinnes of the more noble rational part are also procreated by these corrupt affections; Heresies and Idolatry, these are sinnes of the understanding, yet they arise from sinful and inordinate affections; The rushes grow in such miry places, men seek after profit, applause, or other carnal advantages, and thus these are like a bribe to blind the eies of wisdome; so that it behooveth every one in the way of Religion that he professeth, to consider, whether they be pure conscientious grounds, or corrupt affections that instigate therein:
