A30247:1948
A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is
A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is, by pregnant texts of Scripture vindicated from false glosses / by Anthony Burgess.
London : s.n., 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. XIV.
It is more affected with Appearances then Realities.
Twelfthly, The sinfulness of the Imagination is seen, in that it is more affected with the appearance of things, then the reality, yea we do wholly satisfy our selves with things, as they are in our fancy only, and never attain to what is really good or happy. Our comforts are but imaginary comforts; our delights but imaginary delight, yea our wealth, our honours are but in imagination only; It's usual with the Scripture to speak of the Nations of the world comparatively to God, as a drop, as a little dust; How often is a mans life compared to a shadow? Insomuch that neither our life and delight are worthy of the name; All the things of this world are but in imagination; What seemeth to be more substantial than wealth, which is said to answer all things? yet Solomon saith, Why doest thou set thy eyes upon that which is not? Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon it, is in the original? It showeth our ardent desires after that thing which is not: Hence a wicked man in his greatest triumph and glory is compared but to a dream, Job 20 8. He shall flee away as a dream, and shall not be; All the while we pursue riches, honours, all the while our hearts are hastening after the creatures, ⟨p. 366⟩we are but in a dream; What is true riches? What is true food? What is true glory? We miss and embrace only a shadow: This is notably represented by the Prophet, Isa 29. 8. The enemies of the Church that had in their hopes and expectations devoured Zion, are compared to an hungry man that dreameth he eateth, but when he is awakened his soul is empty: Thus it is in all these worldly enjoyments, this life is but a dream, we are not awaked till we come within the borders of eternity: Oh that this were truly considered, how greatly would it mortify that inordinacy in us to these fading things? When the child rejoiceth in his bauble, it is but his Imagination that is pleased, his counters he taketh for money, it is but his fancy that contents him; and truly no more are all the great things of the world in respect of God and eternal things.