Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

And in this case it takes away that ordinary excuse that men have: for men are ready to say, alas▪ I have resisted such and such a sin, I have a nature exceedingly inclined to them. But alas thou art deceived in this: for this ¹is so far from excusing thee, as that this very thing that thou hast a strong inclination to evil, it makes thy sin out of measure sinful. For even as it is in good actions, the ⟨p. 369⟩more zeal there is, the better is the good work, so is it in evil works, the more lust there is in every evil work, the greater is the sin: for the more lust there is, the more sin: and the more wilful a man is in sin the more is the sin.

And in this case it takes away that ordinary excuse that men have: for men are ready to say, alas▪ I have resisted such and such a sin, I have a nature exceedingly inclined to them. But alas thou art deceived in this: for this ¹is so far from excusing thee, as that this very thing that thou hast a strong inclination to evil, it makes thy sin out of measure sinful. For even as it is in good actions, the ⟨p. 369⟩more zeal there is, the better is the good work, so is it in evil works, the more lust there is in every evil work, the greater is the sin: for the more lust there is, the more sin: and the more wilfull a man is in sin the more is the sin.

1. 1Corruption of nature hateful to God.

Take a serpent, or a toad, that is hateful to the nature ¹