2. Something must be answered, as namely, 1. That though our thoughts are free from the notice of men on Earth, or Satan in Hell, further than they are imprinted in the body or actions; though they are free from the punishment of humane Laws, yet are they not free from the eye, nor Law, nor wrath of God, as you heard in divers instances before, and particularly in the case of Simon Magus, Act. 8.22. And 2. That other Notion ⟨p. 141⟩is corrupt, that nothing is culpable that is involuntary: It's true, this doth extenuate a fault, but this doth not extinguish it: 'tis a less fault in that ca•se• but it is a fault*, for the understanding may be depraved, as well as the will; and we are really guilty in Adam's sin, though we had no previous consent therein. It is a fault, that we are capable subjects for such sinful injections, though we yield not to them; for there is something in us that encourages those attempts: the Angels met with none of these. The will lies dormant when we are asleep, and yet *Casuists say, there wants no sin, even in our dreams; for the fancy and the memory may be corrupted, as well as the will; and therefore it follows, these wandering thoughts may be against God's Will, though they be besides our own. And 3. For our accustomedness to greater sins, and frequency in those, that signifies little herein: for crimes do not excuse faults. The Stars are the same in the firmament all day, though while the Sun shines, they appear not; when the Sun is retired, they will show themselves: while your greater staring sins appear, these are nothing; but if ever a night of terror come upon you, ⟨p. 142⟩then each of these will shine in its proper guilt, in the eye of conscience. And then 4. The commonness of them adds to their sinfulness, though it take from your sense thereof. If your neighbour for a time break over your hedge, and tread your corn, the matter is soon put up, 'tis but a trespass by chance; but if he daily use it, and make it his way, you think it's intolerable: So if a wandering thought stole in once a week, it were a less offence; but if they will transgress, and make a way over God's ground, spoil his Garden often in every day, this makes the sin the greater, though the sense of it be the less*.
2. Something must be answered, as namely, 1. That though our thoughts are free from the notice of men on Earth, or Satan in Hell, further than they are imprinted in the body or actions; though they are free from the punishment of humane Laws, yet are they not free from the eye, nor Law, nor wrath of God, as you heard in divers instances before, and particularly in the case of Simon Magus, Act. 8.22. And 2. That other Notion ⟨p. 141⟩is corrupt, that nothing is culpable that is involuntary: It's true, this doth extenuate a fault, but this doth not extinguish it: 'tis a less fault in that ca•se• but it is a fault*, for the understanding may be depraved, as well as the will; and we are really guilty in Adam's sin, though we had no previous consent therein. It is a fault, that we are capable subjects for such sinful injections, though we yield not to them; for there is something in us that incourages those attempts: the Angels met with none of these. The will lyes dormant when we are asleep, and yet *Casuists say, there wants no sin, even in our dreams; for the fancy and the memory may be corrupted, as well as the will; and therefore it follows, these wandring thoughts may be against God's Will, though they be besides our own. And 3. For our accustomedness to greater sins, and frequency in those, that signifies little herein: for crimes do not excuse faults. The Stars are the same in the firmament all day, though while the Sun shines, they appear not; when the Sun is retired, they will shew themselves: while your greater staring sins appear, these are nothing; but if ever a night of terrour come upon you, ⟨p. 142⟩then each of these will shine in its proper guilt, in the eye of conscience. And then 4. The commonness of them adds to their sinfulness, though it take from your sense thereof. If your neighbour for a time break over your hedge, and tread your corn, the matter is soon put up, 'tis but a trespass by chance; but if he daily use it, and make it his way, you think it's intolerable: So if a wandring thought stole in once a week, it were a less offence; but if they will transgress, and make a way over God's ground, spoil his Garden often in every day, this makes the sin the greater, though the sense of it be the less*
- *Nay, in some respects, the more involuntary any sin is, the more strong and natural it is; and the more natural, the more horrible; as a natural thief is worse than a deliberate thief, who sometimes steals: and in this respect, involuntary sins may be worst of all. Shepherd Select cases.
- *Aquin. 22 ae. q. 154. act. 5.
- *Tu qui dicis peccatum parvum, velim scire, quoties tale peccatum admittis, si tot parvulas plagas in corpore aut maculas & soissuras in vestibus fieri velis. August.
