Let us be deeply humbled and mourn1 before the Lord for original sin. We have lost that pure quintessential frame of soul as once we had; our nature is vitiated with corruption. Original sin hath diffused it self as a poison into the whole man*. Like the Jerusalem-Artichoke, which, wherever it is planted, presently over-runs the ground. There are not worse natures in Hell than we have. The hearts of the best are like Peters sheet, ⟨p. 98⟩where were a number of unclean creeping things, Act. 10. 12. This primitive corruption is bitterly to be bewailed, because we are never free from it. It is like a spring under ground, which though it be not seen, yet it still runs. We may as well stop the beating of the pulse, as stop the motions to sin. This inbred pravity retards and hinders us in that which is spiritual, Rom. 7. 19. The good that I would, I do not. Original sin may be compared to that fish Pliny speaks of, a Sea-Lamprey,3 which cleaves to the keel of the ship, and hinders it when it is under sail. Sin hangs weights upon us*, that we move but slow to Heaven. O this adherency of sin! Paul shook the Viper which was on his hand into the fire, Act. 28. 5. But we cannot shake off original corruption in this life. Sin doth not come as a lodger for a night, but an indweller, Rom. 7. 17. Sin that dwelleth in me. 'Tis with us as with one who hath an Hectic fever upon him, though he changeth the air, yet still he carries his disease with him. Original sin is inexhaustible. This Ocean cannot be emptied; though the stock of sin spends, yet it is not▪at all diminished; the more ⟨p. 99⟩we sin, the fuller we are of sin. Original corruption is like the Widows Oil, which increased by pouring out*, and that which may be another wedge to break our hearts, is, that original sin doth mix with the very habits of grace. Hence it is, our actings towards Heaven are so dull and languid. Why doth faith act no stronger, but because it is clogged with sense? Why doth love to God burn no purer, but because it is hindered with lust? Original sin incorporates with our graces. As bad lungs cause an Asthma or shortness of breath: so original sin having infected the heart, our graces breathe now very faintly. Thus we see what in original sin may draw forth our tears. In particular let us lament the corruption
Let us be deeply humbled and mourn1 before the Lord for original sin. We have lost that pure quintessential frame of soul as once we had; our nature is vitiated with corruption. Original sin hath diffused it self as a poison into the whole man*. Like the Hierusalem-Hartichoke, which, wherever it is planted, presently over-runs the ground. There are not worse natures in Hell than we have. The hearts of the best are like Peters sheet, ⟨p. 98⟩where were a number of unclean creeping things, Act. 10. 12. This primitive corruption is bitterly to be bewailed, because we are never free from it. It is like a spring under ground, which though it be not seen, yet it still runs. We may as well stop the beating of the pulse, as stop the motions to sin. This inbred pravity retards and hinders us in that which is spiritual, Rom. 7. 19. The good that I would, I do not. Original sin may be compared to that fish Pliny speaks of, a Sea-Lamprey,3 which cleaves to the keel of the ship, and hinders it when it is under sail. Sin hangs weights upon us*, that we move but slow to Heaven. O this adherency of sin! Paul shook the Viper which was on his hand into the fire, Act. 28. 5. But we cannot shake off original corruption in this life. Sin doth not come as a lodger for a night, but an indweller, Rom. 7. 17. Sin that dwelleth in me. 'Tis with us as with one who hath an Hectick feaver upon him, though he changeth the air, yet still he carries his disease with him. Original sin is inexhaustible. This Ocean cannot be emptyed; though the stock of sin spends, yet it is not▪at all diminished; the more ⟨p. 99⟩we sin, the fuller we are of sin. Original corruption is like the Widows Oyl, which encreased by pouring out*
- 11.
- *A planta pedis usque ad verticem diffunditur hoc venenum. B•.
- 3* [Greek or Hebrew]. Plin.* 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Plin.
- *[Greek or Hebrew], C•assa moles. Beza. Heb. 12. 1.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, C•assa moles. Beza. Heb. 12. 1.
- *2 King. 4. 6.
