Use 2. Hence every man may learn what sin he is most given to, what corruption most defiles his heart, and which way his heart is most inclined, which is a needful thing; it is a pity a man should know strange Countries abroad, and be ignorant at home, pity to be censorious abroad, and careless at home; wouldest thou know then what sin most sways thee? it is one of these, ⟨p. 118⟩either lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, or pride of life, or all of them, but one must over-rule us; if thou beest not born of God, they reign; if born of God, yet they may captivate thee, therefore see which of these bears most sway in thy heart: if it be intemperance, then your hearts will be addicted to Gluttony, or Drunkenness, or Pastime, or Frolics, and Jestings; if your hearts be carried towards Women, that is a lust of the flesh; if you find that you stand not much on your pleasure, but you can fare hardly, and lye hardly, that you are not given to Women, or Lust, how then are you affected to profit? doth not thy soul covet after wealth, and when thou art rich, thou considerest not so much what thou hast, as what thou hast not; when thou hast it, there is no care to employ it in Gods services, for God, or his Church, or his Children, to do the more good, but thou carest not how thou comest by it, and contentest thy self only with looking on it; this is a lust of the Eye; but what if thou beest a Prodigal, he hates covetousness, but yet all Prodigals are proud, for pride thinks it baseness to keep within compass, but lives above his estate; so, dost thou affect thy credit, or outward applause? that is pride of heart; that we will not deny our credit and so we dare not look after God, because of the loss of our credit, or honour, why this is from pride of heart; and if thou beest Regenerate, yet one of these lusts it is that puts thee to distempers, and discouragements, if any thing discourage thee, and vex thee sinfully, so that thou growest discontent, it is from one of these three; nay, are thou inwardly affected with thy sin, that it carries thee to unbelief, or distrust, that thou canst not look up to God with comfort?
Ʋse 2. Hence every man may learn what sin he is most given to, what corruption most defiles his heart, and which way his heart is most inclined, which is a needfull thing; it is a pitty a man should know strange Countreys abroad, and be ignorant at home, pitty to be sensorious abroad, and carelesse at home; wouldest thou know then what sin most swayes thee? it is one of these, ⟨p. 118⟩either lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, or pride of life, or all of them, but one must over-rule us; if thou beest not born of God, they reign; if born of God, yet they may captivate thee, therefore see which of these bears most sway in thy heart: if it be intemperance, then your hearts will be addicted to Gluttony, or Drunkenness, or Pastime, or Frolicks, and Jestings; if your hearts be carried towards Women, that is a lust of the flesh; if you finde that you stand not much on your pleasure, but you can fare hardly, and lye hardly, that you are not given to Women, or Lust, how then are you affected to profit? doth not thy soul covet after wealth, and when thou art rich, thou considerest not so much what thou hast, as what thou hast not; when thou hast it, there is no care to employ it in Gods services, for God, or his Church, or his Children, to doe the more good, but thou carest not how thou comest by it, and contentest thy self only with looking on it; this is a lust of the Eye; but what if thou beest a Prodigal, he hates covetousnesse, but yet all Prodigals are proud, for pride thinks it basenesse to keep within compasse, but lives above his estate; so, dost thou affect thy credit, or outward applause? that is pride of heart; that we will not deny our credit and so we dare not look after God, because of the losse of our credit, or honour, why this is from pride of heart; and if thou beest Regenerate, yet one of these lusts it is that puts thee to distempers, and discouragements, if any thing discourage thee, and vex thee sinfully, so that thou growest discontent, it is from one of these three; nay, are thou inwardly affected with thy sin, that it carries thee to unbeliefe, or distrust, that thou canst not look up to God with comfort?
