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

Eleventhly, The sinful Imagination of a man doth in a great measure manifest it self, in reference to the Word of God, and the Ministerial Preaching thereof. Here it discovers much enmity and contrariety to what is godly; For the Word it self, How greatly is the Imagination offended thereat, both in respect of the style and the matter? The language is not so embellished and polished, that the fancy should delight therein; This hath been a rock of offence to many great but unsanctified wits; They have disdained the simplicity of the style, and affected a more gaudy Oratory; This is the sin of the fancy chiefly. Austin in his Confessions doth much bewail his pride and tumour in this particular; He disdained to become like a little child, and to lay aside the admiration of humane eloquence; by which he was so much puffed up; What profaneness and the love to their filthy lusts do to some in making them opposite to Scripture ways, The same doth an unmortified fancy, especially where there are learning and parts in others; Even as we see Christ became a stumbling block to many, because he came not in that external dignity and pomp of a King which they desired; Thus also it is with the Scriptures, because they are not in such pleasing words, such florid expressions as their Imagination would have: Hence it is they take no delight in the reading of them, or in meditating therein, whereas they are never satisfied in reading of Comedies, Histories that are full of delight and exact language, in reading of Poetry and Romances, thou readest (it may be) not one Chapter in the Bible to many of these: Oh do thou humble thy self under that vain and proud fancy, It is a great enemy to thy conversion! If ever God open thy eyes, thou wilt with Austin bewail thy folly herein, and at last regard fruit more than leaves, substances more than shadows. This was also Hierom's temptation to be much enamoured with humane Oratory, and therefore speaks of himself, what terrors, yea bodily smart he was in, hearing a voice at the same time, saying, Ciceronianus es non Christianus. I do not speak this as if humane Oratory and Eloquence were not lawful; yea where it is well used, it is an excellent gift of God. Cyprian and others carried this Egyptian gold out of Egypt to Canaan. Chrysostom, Nazianzen, Basil, were so many Divine Orphe 's to change the natures of beastly men;