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

¶. 6.

The Bodies indisposition to any service of God, a Demonstration of its original Pollution.

But let us proceed to another particular wherein the original pollution of the body may be manifested, and that is by the indisposition that is in the body to any service for God, though it may be the soul is willing and desirous. The drowsiness, dullness and sleepiness of the body doth many times cause the soul to be very unfit for any approaches unto God; Our Saviour observed this even in his very Disciples, when he said, The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, Matth. 26. 41. when our Saviour was in those great agonies, making earnest prayer unto God, and commanding his Disciples To watch and pray, that they might not enter into temptation, yet they were heavy and dull, and therefore were twice reproved for their sleep; and this sleepiness of theirs, was at that time, when (if ever) they should have been throughly awakened; but thus it falleth out often, that in those duties, and at those times, when we ought most to watch and attend, then commonly the body is most heavy and dull; Hence is that drowsiness and sleepiness while the Word is preached, whereas at thy meals, or at thy recreations, and in worldly businesses there is no such dullness falleth upon thee; This ariseth partly from the soul, and partly from the body; The soul that is not spiritual and heavenly, therefore it doth not with delight and joy approach unto God, and then the body is like an instrument out of tune, as earth is the most predominant element in it, so it is a clog and a burden to the soul; Therefore bewail thy natural condition herein; Adams body was expedite and ready, he found no indisposition in his body to serve the Lord, but how often, even when the heart desireth it, yet is thy body a weight and trouble to thee. Nazianzene doth excellently bewail this, How I am joined to this body, I know not (saith he) how at the same time I should be the Image of God, and roll in this dirt (so he calleth the body)—It is a kind enemy, a deceitful friend, How strange is this conjunction, Quod vereor amplector, quod amo perhorresco? Doth not God suffer this wrestling of the body with the soul to humble us, that we may understand