The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Secondly, when a man is [Greek or Hebrew] or drawn away there are stricken out between the lust and the pleasing object, some glances of the heart, with thoughts of sin. When lust hath gone thus far, if a violent temptation fall ⟨p. 361⟩in, the person to whom it doth so befall, may be carried, or rather hurried out and surprised into no small advance towards the perpetration of sin, without the least delight in the sin or consent of the will unto it, if he be a godly man. So was it in the case of David in the cutting of the lap of the garment of Saul. Lust stirred in him, drew him off from his frame of dependence on God, and by the advantage of Sauls presence stirred up thoughts of self-security, and advantage in him, which carried him almost to the very act of sin, before he recovered himself. Then (I say) is a man drawn away, not only in respect to the Term from whence, but also of that whereunto, when the thoughts of the object presented as suitable to lust are cast in, though immediately rejected. This I intend by this acting of sin; Which although it be our sin, as having its rise and spring in us, and is continually to be lamented, yet when it is not accompanied with any delight of the Heart or consent of the Will, but the thought of it, is like a piece of fiery iron cast into water which maketh a sudden commotion or noise, but yet is suddenly quenched, it is that which regenerate men are, & may be subject to; which also keepeth them humble all their days. There is more in this drawing away, than a single thought or apprehension of evil amounts to, (which may be without the least sin. To know evil is not evil) but yet is short of the souls consent unto it.

Secondly, when a man is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 or drawne away there are stricken out between the lust and the pleasing object, some glances of the heart, with thoughts of sinne. When lust hath gon thus farre, if a violent temptation fall ⟨p. 361⟩in, the person to whom it doth so befall, may be carryed, or rather hurried out and surprized into no small advance towards the perpetration of sinne, without the least delight in the sinne or consent of the will unto it, if he be a godly man. So was it in the case of David in the cutting of the lap of the garment of Saul. Lust stirred in him, drew him off from his frame of dependance on God, and by the advantage of Sauls presence stirred up thoughts of selfe-security, and advantage in him, which carryed him almost to the very act of sinne, before he recovered himselfe. Then (I say) is a man drawn away, not only in respect to the Terme from whence, but also of that whereunto, when the thoughts of the object presented as suitable to lust are cast in, though immediately rejected. This I intend by this acting of sinne; Which although it be our sinne, as having its rise and spring in us, and is continually to be lamented, yet when it is not accompaned with any delight of the Heart or consent of the Will, but the thought of it, is like a piece of fiery iron cast into water which maketh a sudden commotion or noise, but yet is suddenly quenched, it is that which regenerate men are, & may be subject to; which also keepeth them humble all their dayes. There is more in this drawing away, than a single thought or apprehension of evill amounts to, (which may be without the least sinne. To know evill is not evill) but yet is short of the soules consent unto it.