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

Take a serpent, or a toad, that is hateful to the nature ¹of a man; though it hurt us not yet we loath it, because it is contrary to our nature. So this Law in our members, this strong inclination to that which is evil, though it should not break forth to actual transgressions, yet it is hateful to the pure eyes of God; therefore we should humble our selves for this, and not excuse our selves because of our evil nature. The worse thy nature is, the more cause thou hast to abhor thy self, and there is great reason for it: because sin is worse in the root then in the branches; the bitterness is more there as the sourness is more in the leaven, then in the dough. As the heat is more in the fire then in the air that is heated by it. So there is more evil in this nature of ours, then in any outward act of sin.

Take a serpent, or a toad, that is hateful to the nature ¹of a man; though it hurt us not yet we loath it, because it is contrary to our nature. So this Law in our members, this strong inclination to that which is evil, though it should not break forth to actual transgressions, yet it is hateful to the pure eyes of God; therefore we should humble our selves for this, and not excuse our selves because of our evil nature. The worse thy nature is, the more cause thou hast to abhor thy self, and there is great reason for it: because sin is worse in the root then in the branches; the bitterness is more there as the soureness is more in the leaven, then in the dough. As the heat is more in the fire then in the air that is heated by it. So there is more evil in this nature of ours, then in any outward act of sin.

1. 1Simile.

Therefore let no man excuse himself with this to say, I have a Law in my members that prompts me strongly to sin against God. It is all one as if a thief should excuse himself and say I am of a purloining nature, I cannot