A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

4. Satan, he joins Issue with our Lusts, and makes them more violent; he finds the Fire in us, and then blows up the Flames: Therefore carnal Men are said to walk after the Prince of the Power of the Air, in fulfilling the Will of the Flesh and the Mind; Ephes. 2.3. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the Course of this World, according to the Prince of the Power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience. Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past, in the Lusts of the Flesh, fulfilling the Desires of the Flesh and of the Mind. Satan hath a Hand in it; he presents Objects, poisons the Fancy, and stirs up those corrupt and carnal Motions; therefore the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 7.5. Lest Satan tempt you for your Incontinency. He marks our Temper, and to what we are flexible and pliable, what is our Sin, and then he joins Issue with it; when Satan seeth our carnal Affections run that way, he makes an Advantage of it. As when the matter of a Tempest is prepared, the Devil joins and makes it more terrible and violent: so he doth deal here with our Corruptions, when he seeth our Hearts strongly carried out, either to the Delights, Pleasures, or Honours of the World, he blows up the Fire he finds in us into a Flame. Well then, to deal with Nature, Custom, Example, Satan, this is hard: All these plead for worldly Lusts.

IV. Upon what Grounds and Encouragements are we to deny worldly Lusts? How doth Grace teach us to deny them? partly by way of Diversion; partly by way of Opposition; and partly by way of Argument, Discourse and Persuasion.

IV. Upon what Grounds and Encouragements are we to deny worldly Lusts? How doth Grace teach us to deny them? partly by way of Diversion; partly by way of Opposition; and partly by way of Argument, Discourse and Perswasion.