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

Thirdly, These motions though they flow from original sin, as the universal cause, yet there are particular causes that do excite and draw them forth. And it is good to observe, how many ways original sin, being awakened doth produce these sinful motions thereof. And

Thirdly, These motions though they flow from original sinne, as the universal cause, yet there are particular causes that do excite and draw them forth. And it is good to observe, how many wayes original sinne, being awakened doth produce these sinful motions thereof. And

1. Sometimes they arise from the present sensible object that doth affect us. Every object either of the eye, or ear, or touching, doth presently work upon the soul, not indeed efficiently (as some have thought) but only by way of alluring and enticing: so that it is almost impossible for us, either to hear or see any object, and not have the first motions of the soul, as sudden, so sinful, about them. Oh the miserable depravation of mankind, who hath sin and hell entering into the soul by every sense it hath! there is not any sensible object, but it is a snare to thee, it stirreth up some sinful motion or other, either love, or anger, joy, or fear, and all this before grace can work: Hence the great work of Christianity is inward and spiritual; it is soul-work, to set a watch before eyes, ears, tongue, and all the outward parts of the body, that the soul be not sinfully disquieted. For every object is to our corrupt hearts one way or other, as the forbidden fruit was to Eve: not that God doth forbid us to see or hear such things, but because the soul cannot be excited by those objects and affected with them, but it is in a sinful manner. If then thy head were a fountain of tears, it could not weep enough for the desolation that is upon thee: Thy eye maketh thee sin; thy ear maketh thee sin. Thus thou art compassed about with sin, from evening and morning.

1. Sometimes they arise from the present sensible object that doth affect us. Every object either of the eye, or ear, or touching, doth presently work upon the soul, not indeed efficiently (as some have thought) but only by way of alluring and enticing: so that it is almost impossible for us, either to hear or see any object, and not have the first motions of the soul, as suddain, so sinful, about them. Oh the miserable depravation of mankind, who hath sinne and hell entring into the soul by evey sense it hath! there is not any sensible object, but it is a snare to thee, it stirreth up some sinful motion or other, either love, or anger, joy, or fear, and all this before grace can work: Hence the great work of Christianity is inward and spiritual; it is soul-work, to set a watch before eyes, eares, tongue, and all the outward parts of the body, that the soul be not sinfully disquieted. For every object is to our corrupt hearts one way or other, as the forbidden fruit was to Eve: not that God doth forbid us to see or hear such things, but because the soul cannot be excited by those objects and affected with them, but it is in a sinful manner. If then thy head were a fountain of teares, it could not weep enough for the desolation that is upon thee: Thy eye maketh thee sinne; thy ear maketh thee sinne. Thus thou art compassed about with sinne, from evening and morning.