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

yea he maketh them more spiritual and fruitful, as the black and noisome dung maketh the field more fertile and fruitful; but I speak not of these. The thoughts we are treating of, are such as arise from our own hearts: for seeing original sin is the seed of all evil, the most erroneous and flagitious that can be; therefore atheistical, blasphemous, lascivious, and other evil thoughts may come out of our own hearts. It is indeed a special part of heavenly skill and wisdom, experimentally to make a difference between what thoughts are our own, and what are merely of diabolical ••jections, to discover when our own corrupt nature worketh, and when the Devil doth only assault and annoy us: But that is not my business now. It is enough to know, That even from thy own unsanctified heart may arise vain thoughts, blasphemous ⟨p. 465⟩thoughts. So that thy soul seemeth unto thee, to be not only like a dunghill, but an hell it self. To these evil stirrings of sin, in the apprehensive part, we may refer our sinful dreams: even for them God might damn us. Austin bewaileth and confesseth his dreams; and yet our understanding and will do not so properly work at that time. The other sort of workings of soul, are such as are by way of love, and desire, when there arise in the heart some motions, and affections to such an object. Our hearts being now wholly destitute of the Image of God, and sin having full dominion over us; no sooner doth any sinful object present it self, but immediately the heart maketh towards it; there is a propensity to embrace it.

yea he maketh them more spiritual and fruitfull, as the black and noisom dung maketh the field more fertile and fruitfull; but I speak not of these. The thoughts we are treating of, are such as arise from our own hearts: for seeing original sinne is the seed of all evil, the most erroneous and flagitious that can be; therefore atheistical, blasphemous, lascivious, and other evil thoughts may come out of our own hearts. It is indeed a special part of heavenly skill and wisdom, experimentally to make a difference between what thoughts are our own, and what are meerly of diabolical ••jections, to discover when our own corrupt nature worketh, and when the Devil doth only assault and annoy us: But that is not my business now. It is enough to know, That even from thy own unsanctified heart may arise vain thoughts, blasphemous ⟨p. 465⟩