2. These dispose and naturalize the soul to roving. Habit is a second nature*, and it is almost as hard to wash an Ethiopian white, as to break an evil custom. Jer. 13.23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, then may ye also do (or think) good, that are accustomed to Evil. If a man be used to ill company, and linked in with them, though he sometimes resolve better, yet when they come, away he must go with them against his purpose. Perhaps you have resolved against these vain wanderings in Gods service, but being used to them, they call at door, and take you captive away against ⟨p. 123⟩your intention. And therefore set up a constant watch against them, for Religion is linked together in the power and practicals of it. So that you must take all, or leave all; be a Christian always and altogether, or not at all. It is said of that accursed Mahomet that he had used a Dove to come to his Ear, and thence to eat her commons, And so when the falling sickness surprised him, his pigeon presently came to her repast, which he feigned to be the holy Ghost or an Angel, that told him the mysteries of his Religion: my beloved, if these fowls, these evil Angels be used to your ear or heart, they will come even in your most celestial employments, and divert and distract you: and hereby they become less strange, and things that are familiar to us, though ugly, are not started at; nay treble diligence will not dispel them, if you give them ordinary entertainment. If a way be made over your corn or ground, and people used to come that way, it must be an higher hedge than ordinary, that must keep them off. If vain thoughts have made a road over thy heart, and use to come that way without control, it must be a very high and strong watch ⟨p. 124⟩and resistance, that will turn them by, in holy Duties. Prov. 35.28. He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like a City that is broken down and without Walls.
2. These dispose and naturalize the soul to roving. Habit is a second nature*, and it is almost as hard to wash an Ethiopian white, as to break an evil custome. Jer. 13.23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, then may ye also do (or think) good, that are accustomed to Evil. If a man be used to ill company, and link't in with them, though he sometimes resolve better, yet when they come, away he must go with them against his purpose. Perhaps you have resolved against these vain wandrings in Gods service, but being us'd to them, they call at door, and take you captive away against ⟨p. 123⟩your intention. And therefore set up a constant watch against them, for Religion is link't together in the power and practicals of it. So that you must take all, or leave all; be a Christian allwayes and altogether, or not at all. It is said of that accursed Mahomet that he had used a Dove to come to his Ear, and thence to eat her commons, And so when the falling sickness surprized him, his pigeon presently came to her repast, which he feigned to be the holy Ghost or an Angel, that told him the mysteries of his Religion: my beloved, if these fowls, these evil Angels be used to your ear or heart, they will come even in your most coelestial imployments, and divert and distract you: and hereby they become less strange, and things that are familiar to us, though ugly, are not started at; nay treble diligence will not dispel them, if you give them ordinary entertainment. If a way be made over your corn or ground, and people used to come that way, it must be an higher hedge than ordinary, that must keep them off. If vain thoughts have made a road over thy heart, and use to come that way without controll, it must be a very high and strong watch ⟨p. 124⟩and resistance, that will turn them by, in holy Duties. Prov. 35.28. He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like a City that is broken down and without Walls.
- *Hereby holy Thoughts become tedious and painful, for we strive against two natures, one that sin hath brought and another that Custom hath wrought. Mr. Angier p. 141.Hereby holy Thoughts become tedious and painful, for we strive against two natures, one that sin hath brought and another that Custome hath wrought. Mr. Angier p. 141.
