Again, This Alteration doth but turn the Course or Stream of Mens Affections, it doth not change the Nature of them. They are the same in their Spring and Fountain, as ever they were, only they are habituated unto another Course than what of themselves they are inclined unto. You may take a young Whelp of the most fierce and savage Creatures, as of a Tiger, or a Wolf, and by custom or usage, make it as tame and harmless as any domestic Creature, a Dog or the like. But although it may be turned unto quite another way or course of acting, than what it was of it self inclined unto, yet its nature is not changed. And therefore, frequently on Occasion, Opportunity, or Provocation it will fall into its own ⟨p. 206⟩savage Inclination. And having tasted of the Blood of Creatures, it will never be reclaimed. So is it with the depraved Affections of men with respect unto their Change; their streams are turned, they are habituated unto a new Course, their Nature is not altered, at least not from rational unto Spiritual, from earthly unto heavenly. Yet this is that which was most beautiful and desirable in nature, the Glory of it, and the utmost of its Attainments. He who has by any means proceeded unto such a moderation of his Affections, as to render him kind, benign, patient, useful, preferring public Good before private, inordinate, and temperate in all things, will rise up in Judgement against those, who professing themselves to be under the Conduct of the Light of Grace, do yet by being morose, angry, selfish, worldly, manifest that their Affections are not subdued by the Power of that Grace. Wherefore, that we may be Spiritually-minded, there is yet another work upon our Affections required, which is their internal Renovation, whereby not only the Course of their Actings is changed, but their Nature is altered, and Spiritually renewed. I intend that which is expressed in that great Evangelical Promise, Isai. 17.6, 7, 8, 9. The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid, and the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatlings together, and a little Child shall lead them, and the Cow and the Bear shall feed, their young ones shall lye down together, and the Lion shall eat Straw like the Ox, and the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp, and the weaned Child shall put his Hand on the Cockatrice Den.
Again, This Alteration doth but turn the Course or Stream of Mens Affections, it doth not change the Nature of them. They are the same in their Spring and Fountain, as ever they were, only they are habituated unto another Course than what of themselves they are inclined unto. You may take a young Whelp of the most fierce and savage Creatures, as of a Tygar, or a Wolf, and by custom or usage, make it as tame and harmless as any domestick Creature, a Dog or the like. But although it may be turned unto quite another way or course of acting, than what it was of it self enclined unto, yet its nature is not changed. And therefore, frequently on Occasion, Opportunity, or Provocation it will fall into its own ⟨p. 206⟩savage Inclination. And having tasted of the Blood of Creatures, it will never be reclaimed. So is it with the depraved Affections of men with respect unto their Change; their streams are turned, they are habituated unto a new Course, their Nature is not altered, at least not from rational unto Spiritual, from earthly unto heavenly. Yet this is that which was most beautiful and desirable in nature, the Glory of it, and the utmost of its Attainments. He who has by any means proceeded unto such a moderation of his Affections, as to render him kind, benign, patient, useful, preferring publick Good before private, inordinate, and temporate in all things, will rise up in Judgement against those, who professing themselves to be under the Conduct of the Light of Grace, do yet by being morose, angry, selfish, wordly, manifest that their Affections are not subdued by the Power of that Grace. Wherefore, that we may be Spiritually-minded, there is yet another work upon our Affections required, which is their internal Renovation, whereby not only the Course of their Actings is changed, but their Nature is altered, and Spiritually renewed. I intend that which is expressed in that great Evangelical Promise, Isai. 17.6, 7, 8, 9. The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, the Leopard shall lye down with the Kid, and the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatlings together, and a little Child shall lead them, and the Cow and the Bear shall feed, their young ones shall lye down together, and the Lion shall eat Straw like the Ox, and the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp, and the weaned Child shall put his Hand on the Cockatrice Den.
