A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

but to run wildly to embrace an Ens rationis, to prefer a thing of no existence, but what is coloured by our own imagination, of no virtue, no usefulness, a thing that God never created, nor pronounced good, is a greater enmity, and a higher slight of God.

but to run wildly to embrace an Ens rationis, to prefer a thing of no existence, but what is colour'd by our own imagination, of no vertue, no usefulness, a thing that God never created, nor pronounced good, is a greater enmity, and a higher slight of God.

6. In respect of Connaturalness and Voluntariness. ¹They are the imaginations of the thoughts of the heart, and they are continually evil. They are as natural as the aestuations of the Sea, the bubblings of a Fountain, or the twinklings of the Stars. The more natural any motion is, ordinarily the quicker it is. Time is requisite to action, but thoughts have an instantaneous motion. The body is a heavy piece of clay, but the mind can start out on every occasion. Actions have their stated times and places; but these solicit us, and are entertained by us at all seasons. Neither day nor night, street nor closet, exchange nor temple, can privilege us from them; We meet them at every turn, and they strike upon our Souls as often as light upon our Eyes. There is no restraint for them; the Laws of men, the constitution of the body, the interest of profit or credit, are mighty bars in the way of outward profaneness: but nothing lays the reins upon thoughts but the Law of God; and this man is not subject to, neither can be, Rom. 8.7. Besides, the natural Atheism in man is a special friend and nurse of these; few firmly believing either the omniscience of God, or his Government of the world; which the Scripture speaks of frequently, as the cause of most sins among the sons of men.^† Actions are done with some reluctance, and nips of natural conscience. Conscience will start at a gross temptation, but it is not frighted at thoughts. Men may commit speculative folly, and their conscience look on, without so much as a nod against it: Men may tear out their neighbours bowels in secret wishes, and their conscience never interpose to part the fray. Conscience indeed cannot take notice of