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

It eclipseth, and for the most part keeps out the Understanding; With many instances thereof.

Sixthly, Herein doth the sinfulness of it appear, that it doth eclipse, yea for the most part exclude and keep out the understanding, which is the more noble light, and to which it ought to be subservient, so that men (whether in religions or civil affairs) are more led by fancy then by reason, there imagination is more predominant then the understanding. It is with man the little world, as the great world, God made in this two great lights, the Sun and Moon, one to rule in the day, the other in the night: Thus man hath two lights created in him, which are to direct him in all his operations; the Sun that is the Understanding, the Moon is like the Imagination, which giveth a glimmering light, and that only in particular and corporeal things. Now as it would be an horrible confusion in the world, if the Moon should shut out the Sun, and take upon it to rule in the day time all the light the Moon hath (let it be supposed it hath some of its own) would not suffice to make a day: Thus it is in man, his fancy which hath not light enough to guide him in his actions to his true end, yet that usurpeth upon the understanding, and doth in effect command all: Thus the inferior light prevaileth over the superior: Oh what groaning should the new creature be in, till it be delivered from this bondage: See then to thy self, and examine all things that pass through thy soul more narrowly and exactly. It may be thy imagination is the cause of all thy Religion, of all thy opinions; It may be it is not faith but fancy; It may be it is not conscience, but imagination that instigateth thee; Those expressions me thinks, and I imagine so, are not high enough, or becoming those glorious actings of faith in the soul, which the Apostle calleth [Greek or Hebrew], Heb. 11. 1. The substance of things hoped for. Aristotle opposeth [Greek or Hebrew], to those apparitions that are made in the air, as the Rain-bow, which hath no real subsistency; and truly such are the conceits and apprehensions many have in Religion and Piety; They are not of a solid, true, and well-grounded knowledge, but are like meteors in the air: Thus do their opinions fly up and down in their head.