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

Rule 2. The object of these delighting, pleasing motions, may either be the sins themselves desired and inclined after; or, They may be the mere thoughts and apprehensions of them. For the soul being a spiritual substance, hath power to reflect upon its own acts and operations, to know it knoweth, to think what it thinketh: And thereupon, because as Aquinas saith, Delectatio sequitur operationem, Delight followeth operation; we may take great pleasure in our thoughts, and even be drunken with delight therein. This is especially to be seen in heretical and erroneous persons: Men who are proud of their opinions, their notions, their own conceptions and inventions; What infinite pleasure and content do such men take in the thoughts, about their, own thoughts, and apprehensions? More sometimes then the greatest Monarchs can do in their earthly greatness. It behoveth therefore men of parts and gifts, men of learning and extraordinary activity of wit to take heed of lust within, carrying them out to pride and delight in their own selves.

Rule 2. The object of these delighting, pleasing motions, may either be the sinnes themselves desired and inclined after; or, They may be the meer thoughts and apprehensions of them. For the soul being a spiritual substance, hath power to reflect upon its own acts and operations, to know it knoweth, to think what it thinketh: And therupon, because as Aquinas saith, Delectatio sequitur operationem, Delight followeth operation; we may take great pleasure in our thoughts, and even be drunken with delight therein. This is especially to be seen in heretical and erroneous persons: Men who are proud of their opinions, their notions, their own conceptions and inventions; What infinite pleasure and content do such men take in the thoughts, about their, own thoughts, and apprehensions? More sometimes then the greatest Monarchs can do in their earthly greatness. It behoveth therefore men of parts and gifts, men of learning and extraordinary activity of wit to take heed of lust within, carrying them out to pride and delight in their own selves.

Rule 3. These motions of delight and pleasure in the soul, are of a large extent. We are not to limit them only to bodily lusts, or ambitious desires, for as large as the command of God is, so large is this way of delightsome motions in the soul by contrariety thereunto. As the Law of God is divided into two Tables, and therein are required all the duties we own to God and man: So likewise hereby are forbidden all the pleasing lusts and thoughts of the soul which oppose these duties. And if a man be a searcher of his own heart, he cannot but take notice, how often these sinful motions of his soul, sometimes empty themselves in reference to God, and sometimes towards our neighbour. Towards God, and thus we have delightful motions in our own self-trusting and confidence in the creature; we love and rejoice in humane comforts to the excluding and shutting out of God himself, especially in holy duties, in the observance of his own day and Ordinances; How many pleasing distracting and wandering motions do then seize upon us, so that commonly we never find our selves more molested by them, then when we are in a most heavenly and holy manner to approach unto him? And for the duties towards our Neighbour, there arise many pleasing evil motions of soul, to envy at his good, to be glad at the evil which befalleth him, to have uncharitable and suspicious thoughts towards him. Thus where ever any actual sin may be committed either against God or man, there may and do pleasing and delightful thoughts arise before, and prepare the way for them.