A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

1. Either from a strong passion, which many times bears down the bars both of grace and reason. That is not wholly voluntary which is done by the prevalency of passion, which suspends the determination of the understanding, and consequently the regular and free motion of the Will. Such was the accusation of God in his Prophet, which David was guilty of, Psal. 116.11. I said in my haste, all men are liars. I said, 'tis true, all men are liars, even the Prophet too, but it was in my haste. And in his haste he accuseth God of the breach of his promises, Psal. 31.22. I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thy Eyes. God hath either forgot his promise, or changed his resolutions, for not one of them will be made good unto me. It was a passion in Moses which made him guilty of that act of unbelief, that cost him his exclusion from the land of promise, Num. 20.8, 10, 11, 12. God commands him to use his Tongue, not his Rod on the Rock; but the passion the ⟨p. 99⟩good man was in by the provocation of the people, transported him beyond his bounds. Peter's heart was not so full of courage as of Loyalty, his Zeal was put out of countenance by his fear. A strong fit of passion may make a man, as good and meek as Moses, fling away both the Tables of the Law, which otherwise would be as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye.

2. From inconsiderateness. There cannot be a full consent of Will, where a deliberate judgment doth not precede. Many a man, through an inconsiderate indulging his appetite, eats that meat which foments his humours into some dangerous disease. Sin creeps upon a good man when the liveliness and activity of his Spirit in former duties is in a slumber; but another hath as great inclinations to sin, when his understanding is in its strength. Peter had the grace of faith, but he fell into his sin for want of acting it; upon his repentance, it is said,