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

They are for the most part inlets to all sin in the Soul.

They are for the most part inlets to all sinne in the Soul.

Herein are these motions of the soul greatly depraved, In that they are inlets for the most part of all sin into the soul: They are the weakest part of the wall, and therefore Satan doth commonly begin his batteries there, this is (as it were) the thatched part of the building, and so any spark of lusts falling upon it doth immediately set the whole building on fire: It is true, the senses they are the out-works and porches (as it were) of the soul, and therefore temptations begin there; but then the affections are the second Court (as it were, so that for the most part the mind and the will are carried on to sin, because the affections are first corrupted; these lye as Saul's men did, all asleep, while his enemies had the opportunity to take away not only his spear, but his life: Now it is good to know, that the order and method of the souls motions to any outward objects in its first creation, was very rational, and commensurate to the true rule, for then the understanding did first apprehend and take notice of the objects to be loved, which it did consider without any ignorance or error, upon this clear proposition of the object: The will did readily receive and embrace it, and when this was all done then the affections were subsequent, they immediately followed without any delay, so that Adam had this perfect method in all his actions before his apostasy, reason did begin and affections did end, but what confusion and disorder is now brought upon us, affections do now begin, not the eyes but the feet do lead, the Devil and sin get their first entrance into the soul by the affections; so that as the Philosophers say in a natural way, Quicquid est in intellect•, prius fuit in sensu, whatsoever is in the understanding, was first in the sense, so may we say morally, Quicquid est in voluntate, prius fuit in appetitu sensitivo, whatsoever is in the will was in the affections, and no wonder it is so now, seeing that the Devil did bring sin into the world by besieging the affections at first, and thereby corrupting the understanding; for as Satan did first tempt Eve the weaker vessel, and so beguiled Adam, whereupon the woman is said to be first in the transgression, so even in man, he did first begin with the affectionate part, the Eve (as it were,) and by that did overcome the rational part which was like the Adam;