I Know not a more lively description in the whole Book of God, of the Natural corruption derived from our first Parents, than these words; Wherein you have the Ground of that grief, which lay so close to God's heart, v. 6. & the Resolve thereupon to destroy man, and whatsoever was serviceable to that ungrateful creature. That must be highly offensive, which moved God to repent of a fabric so pleasing to him at the creation: every stone in the building being at the first laying pronounced good by Him, and upon a review at the finishing the whole, He left it the same character with an Emphasis;† very good. There was not a pin in the whole frame, but was* very beautiful, and being wrought by infinite* wisdom, it was a very comely piece of Art. What then should provoke him to repent of so excellent a work? The wickedness of man, which was great in the earth. How came it to pass that man's wickedness should swell so high? Whence did it spring? From the imagination. Though these might be sinful imaginations, might not the superior faculty preserve it self untainted? Alas! That was defiled; The imagination of the thoughts was evil. But though running thoughts might wheel about in his mind, yet they might leave no stamp or impression upon the will and affections. Yes, they did, The imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil. Surely all could not be under such a blemish: Were there not now and then some pure flashes of the mind? No not one; Every imagination. But granting that they were evil, might there not be some fleeting good mixed with them: as a poisonous toad hath something useful? No, Only evil. Well, but there might be some intervals of thinking, and though there was no good thought, yet evil ones were not always rolling there. Yes, they were Continually; not a moment of time that man was free from them. One would scarce imagine such an inward nest of wickedness, but God hath affirmed it; and if any man should deny it, his own heart would give him the lye.
I Know not a more lively description in the whole Book of God, of the Natural corruption derived from our first Parents, than these words; Wherein you have the Ground of that grief, which lay so close to God's heart, v. 6. & the Resolve thereupon to destroy man, and whatsoever was serviceable to that ungrateful creature. That must be highly offensive, which moved God to repent of a fabrick so pleasing to him at the creation: every stone in the building being at the first laying pronounced good by Him, and upon a review at the finishing the whole, He left it the same character with an Emphasis;† very good. There was not a pin in the whole frame, but was* very beautiful, and being wrought by infinite* wisdom, it was a very comely piece of Art. What then should provoke him to repent of so excellent a work? The wickedness of man, which was great in the earth. How came it to pass that man's wickedness should swell so high? Whence did it spring? From the imagination. Though these might be sinful imaginations, might not the superiour faculty preserve it self untainted? Alas! That was defiled; The imagination of the thoughts was evil. But though running thoughts might wheel about in his mind, yet they might leave no stamp or impression upon the will and affections. Yes, they did, The imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil. Surely all could not be under such a blemish: Were there not now and then some pure flashes of the mind? No not one; Every imagination. But granting that they were evil, might there not be some fleeting good mixed with them: as a poisonous toad hath something useful? No, Only evil. Well, but there might be some intervals of thinking, and though there was no good thought, yet evil ones were not always rouling there. Yes, they were Continually; not a moment of time that man was free from them. One would scarce imagine such an inward nest of wickedness, but God hath affirmed it; and if any man should deny it, his own heart would give him the lye.
- †Gen. 1.31.
- *Eccles. 3.11.
- *Psa. 104.24. [Greek or Hebrew]. Euseb. Praepar. Evang.Psa. 104.24. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Euseb. Praepar. Evang.
