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

First, These motions and stirrings of heart, they are either sudden and transitory, §I[…] abiding and mansory in the soul. Sometimes these sinful stirrings of the heart are like a sudden whirlwind in the soul that presently vanisheth, though they be very troublesome for the time; or they come like a flash of lightning and thunder, which though terrible, yet is but of short continuance; now although they make no longer abode in our soul, yet they pollute and defile it. We are not to give place to them, no not for an hour, as Paul would not to the false brethren, Gal. 2. 5. but we are with holy zeal and indignation to thrust them out, and bolt the doors upon them, as they did to Tamar. Thus in the very twinkling of an eye, if we do not watchfully attend thereunto, we may destroy our own souls over and over again. That is a profane speech to say, Thoughts are free; no, God hath laid an holy command upon our very thoughts, and the first motions and stirrings of our hearts, that nothing should arise there, but what is agreeable to Gods holy Word. When water is in a pure glass, though it be moved and shaken often, yet no noisome thing ariseth thereby; but if in a soul one, then the more it is stirred, the more filthy are the bubbles thereof. Thus in man, while enjoying the Image of God, whatsoever did move or stir his heart, it was altogether holy and pure; but since man is thus corrupted, there cannot be any motions of his soul, but they are wholly defiled and sinful one way or other.

First, These motions and stirrings of heart, they are either sudden and transitory, §I〈…〉 abiding and mansory in the soul. Sometimes these sinfull stirrings of the heart are like a sudden whirlwind in the soul that presently vanisheth, though they be very troublesom for the time; or they come like a flash of lightning and thunder, which though terrible, yet is but of short continuance; now although they make no longer abode in our soul, yet they pollute and defile it. We are not to give place to them, no not for an hour, as Paul would not to the false brethren, Gal. 2. 5. but we are with holy zeal and indignation to thrust them out, and bolt the doors upon them, as they did to Thamar. Thus in the very twinkling of an eye, if we do not watchfully attend thereunto, we may destroy our own souls over and over again. That is a prophane speech to say, Thoughts are free; no, God hath laid an holy command upon our very thoughts, and the first motions and stirrings of our hearts, that nothing should arise there, but what is agreeable to Gods holy Word. When water is in a pure glass, though it be moved and shaken often, yet no noisom thing ariseth thereby; but if in a soul one, then the more it is stirred, the more filthy are the bubbles thereof. Thus in man, while enjoying the Image of God, whatsoever did move or stir his heart, it was altogether holy and pure; but since man is thus corrupted, there cannot be any motions of his soul, but they are wholly defiled and sinfull one way or other.