A Body of Practical Divinity

4. The Affections. These, as the strings of a Viol, are out of tune. These are the lesser Wheels, which are strongly carried by the will, the Master-wheel. Our Affections are misplaced, set on wrong Objects: our Love is set on Sin, our Joy on the Creature. Our Affections are naturally as a sick man's Appetite, he desires things which are noxious and hurtful for him; he calls for Wine in a Fever; so we have impure Lustings instead of holy Longings.

2. The adherency of Original sin. It cleaves to us as blackness to the skin of the Ethiopian, we cannot get rid of it. Paul shook off the Viper on his hand, but we cannot shake off this inbred Corruption: it may be compared to a wild Fig-tree growing on a Wall, though the Roots of it are pulled up, yet there are some strings of it in the joints of the Stone-work, which will not be eradicated, but will sprout ⟨p. 84⟩forth till the Wall be pulled in pieces. Original Concupiscence comes not as a Lodger, for a Night, but is an in-dweller, Rom. 7.17. Sin which dwelleth in me. It is a malus genius, and evil spirit that haunts us wheresoever we go, Josh. 7.12. The Canaanite would dwell in the Land.

2. The adherency of Original sin. It cleaves to us as blackness to the skin of the Ethiopian, we cannot get rid of it. Paul shook off the Viper on his hand, but we cannot shake off this inbred Corruption: it may be compared to a wild Fig-tree growing on a Wall, though the Roots of it are pull'd up, yet there are some strings of it in the joints of the Stone-work, which will not be eradicated, but will sprout ⟨p. 84⟩forth till the Wall be pull'd in pieces. Original Concupiscence comes not as a Lodger, for a Night, but is an in-dweller,