A sermon preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their late solemn fast,…A sermon preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their late solemne fast,…

1. There is a Covenant betwixt conscience and concupiscence, while (as Chrysostom saith) Men believe not what they know, but what they will, and will is half play-maker in their faith, 2 Pet. 3. 5. Of this they are willingly ignorant: excellently is it said, Jer. 9. 6. Bemirmah, In deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. The will hath a pack-pull on the mind: Light and malice, mind and will are vowen through other, the wills malice soureth and leaveneth the minds light, as rotten matter mixed with good wine overmastereth it, and taketh taste and colour from it.

1. There is a Covenant betwixt conscience and concupiscence, while (as Chrysostome saith) Men beleeve not what they know, but what they will, and will is halfe play-maker in their faith, 2 Pet. 3. 5. Of this they are willingly ignorant: excellently is it said, Ier. 9. 6. Bemirmah, In deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. The will hath a pack-pull on the minde: Light and malice, minde and will are vowen through other, the wills malice soureth and leaveneth the minds light, as rotten matter mixed with good wine overmastereth it, and taketh taste and colour from it.

2. The will and affection hath power to suspend the acts of, Considering of Christs excellency: 2. Sins horror: 3. Truths beauty: 4. The sweet peace of obedience to God: 5. The eternity of heaven and hell. Hos. 7. 1. The thief cometh in, and the troops of robbers spoil without, and they say not in heart, that I remember all their wickedness. The will and affections should engage and take the mind surety and obliged to consider of God and his ways: But it is here as when a merchant cometh in, and overbiddeth the customer, and causeth the seller and the customer part company. When the mind is upon this or the like: What shall the wrath or the smiles of a King do to me, when my eye-strings shall be broken? What thoughts can I have of gain, lust, pleasure, court, when worms shall make their nests in my eye-holes? In these, affections come in and divert the mind from such precious thoughts; and here be two errors in the will: First, a sort of wicked diverting of the mind from necessary truths. Secondly, a will-heresy, when faith and divinity is swallowed up in the will and affections.