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

Although much hath been said concerning the original pollution of mans imagination, yet still more is to be discovered; so that there is a very […] resemblance between mans imagination, and those chambers of imagery, which Ezekiel beheld in a Vision, upon the walls thereof were portrayed the form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the Idols of the house of Israel, Ezek. 8. 9, 12. Thu▪ is every mans imagination a table (as it were) whereon are pictured all the forms and shapes of all kind of evil; It may well be called the chamber of mans imagery where are images of jealousy daily created, such forms received that do provoke God to wrath and jealously: Let us therefore proceed.

ALthough much hath been said concerning the original pollution of mans imagination, yet still more is to be discovered; so that there is a very 〈…〉 resemblance between mans imagination, and those chambers of imagery, which Ezekiel beheld in a Vision, upon the walls thereof were pourtrayed the forme of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the Idols of the house of Israei, Ezek. 8. 9, 12. Thu▪ is every mans imagination a table (as it were) whereon are pictured all the formes and shapes of all kind of evil; It may well be called the chamber of mans imagery where are images of jealousy daily created, such formes received that do provoke God to wrath and jealously: Let us therefore proceed.

Tenthly, In this we have an open field wherein mans imagination doth act numberless evils, because of its invention, it is continually inventing new sins or occasions of sins; As if the old sins and trespasses which had filled the world were not enough, What new ways of impiety are invented, new fancies in evil ways? For although invention be indeed principally an act of the understanding, yet because (as you heard) the understanding in its operations hath recourse to the imagination, and that is subservient and under-agent to it, therefore we may attribute the same things to both, especially the things of invention, because a mans imagination hath a peculiar influence therein; Now in this respect, if there were no other, the sins of the imagination will increase like the sands upon the sea-shore: It were possible to show, by going over every particular Commandment, that the imagination of man doth constantly invent new sins against them; the Apostasy of man from his first rectitude is emphatically described by the Scripture in this, as the general and sum of all, that he sought out many inventions,