The spirit of whoredoms is in her; and then follows, they have not known the Lord: Whatsoever is said then against their way they cannot be convinced of it. And men do not consider how they come to be blinded. We find it in ordinary experience, when men are stirred in passion, they have a spirit to such and such a thing that they have a mind to, their spirit is strongly set, and they must have it, and I will, and I will, and I will have it; Come then and say any thing to them and they understand nothing, they are blinded: When their spirit ⟨p. 389⟩is up, when there is an Impetus, a strong inclination of spirit to any thing, say what you will they do not understand you. So it is true in other affections (of love) when the heart is set upon a thing, to love by an Impetus, a strong bent of spirit, though the love be falsely placed, come and say what you will against their way, they do not understand it, their minds are blinded, they do not know any thing. So it is true of fear, of sorrow, any affection, when it is set with a strong bent and inclination to the object of it, it doth much blind the mind. Some have a spirit of sluggishness and they love their ease; a spirit of covetousness and they must have their estates; a spirit of ambition and they must have their honour and respect; a spirit of pride and self-love & they must not yield themselves as ignorant and mistaken by no means; therefore they cannot see the truths, the ways of God. But now let God humble these men that have such a spirit of pride, self love, covetousness and the like, let the edge of their spirits be taken off,1 let God come and but mortify this their lust in them, and then they come to see that which they could never see before, and that with far less ado; then a little hint of any truth prevaileth with their hearts; whereas before all the means of conviction could not do it.
The spirit of whoredoms is in her; and then follows, they have not known the Lord: Whatsoever is said then against their way they cannot be convinced of it. And men do not consider how they come to be blinded. We find it in ordinary experience, when men are stirred in passion, they have a spirit to such and such a thing that they have a mind to, their spirit is strongly set, and they must have it, and I will, and I will, and I will have it; Come then and say any thing to them and they understand nothing, they are blinded: When their spirit ⟨p. 389⟩is up, when there is an Impetus, a strong inclination of spirit to any thing, say what you will they do not understand you. So it is true in other affections (of love) when the heart is set upon a thing, to love by an Impetus, a strong bent of spirit, though the love be falsly placed, come and say what you will against their way, they do not understand it, their minds are blinded, they do not know any thing. So it is true of fear, of sorrow, any affection, when it is set with a strong bent and inclination to the object of it, it doth much blind the mind. Some have a spirit of sluggishness and they love their ease; a spirit of covetousness and they must have their estates; a spirit of ambition and they must have their honor and respect; a spirit of pride and self-love & they must not yeild themselves as ignorant and mistaken by no means; therefore they cannot see the truths, the waies of God. But now let God humble these men that have such a spirit of pride, self love, covetousness and the like, let the edg of their spirits be taken off,1 let God come and but mortifie this their lust in them, and then they come to see that which they could never see before, and that with far less ado; then a little hint of any truth prevaileth with their hearts; whereas before all the means of conviction could not do it.
- 1A little hint of Truth prevails with a subdued heart.
