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

Fifthly, This similitude doth inform us of the frequency and plenty also in sinning. It is not one vain thought, one evil action that will satisfy this corrupt principle within, but it emptieth it self into abundance; To drink iniquity like water, denoteth, abundance and plenty, be doth not sip of it, or taste of it, as ⟨p. 445⟩some are said to taste of the good Word of God, Heb. 6. or as Jonathan tasted of honey, but they drink it down fully and plentifully, never satisfying themselves therein: Hence if they were to live always upon the ear•• […] would never be weary thereof; Original sin like the horseleech, Prod•• 15. hath two daughters crying, Give, give which are never satisfied, these are ignorantis and concupiscentia, Ignorance and Concupiscence; Ignorance, by that we know not God the true and chiefest good, but every creature, yea every lust is represented as good and lovely; as in the dark night a white rotten post, or a glow-worm will shine and appear something: It is the not knowing of God, as revealed in the Scripture, which maketh us set up so many Idols in our hearts. The other daughter is Concupiscence, and this may be called Sheol, because it is always asking and craving, insomuch that a man is insatiably carried out all his life long to one sin or other, he still crieth Give, give; Now what a miserable creature is man, that is thus greedy of that which is destructive of him? If you should hear a man calling importunately for poison, he will eat nothing but poison, Is not such an one desperate set to ruin himself? Thus is with every natural man, he can never sin enough, as if he thought he could never damn himself enough; How happy are the creatures comparatively herein to man? Their appetites are moderated, and they desire nothing that is hurtful, but man never stayeth himself in his lusts, and withal he is wholly carried out to such things as will inevitably damn him.

Fifthly, This similitude doth inform us of the frequency and plenty also insinning. It is not one vain thought, one evil action that will satisfie this corrupt principle within, but it emptieth it self into abundance; To drink iniquity like water, denoteth, abundance and plenty, be doth not sip of it, or tast of it, as ⟨p. 445⟩