Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Evidence 1. As when a man, by a violent stroke on the head, loseth his sight, there ariseth to him a kind of false light, whereby he perceiveth a thousand airy nothings; so man being struck blind to all that is truly good, and for his eternal interest, has a light of another sort brought into his mind; his eyes are opened, knowing evil, and so are the words of the tempter verified, Gen. iii. 5. The words of the Prophet are plain, They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge, Jer. iv. 22. The mind of man has a natural dexterity to devise mischief: none are so simple, as to want skill to contrive ways to gratify their lusts, and ruin their souls: tho' the power of every one's hand cannot reach to put their devises in execution. None needs to be taught this black art; but as weeds grow up, of their c•n ••cord in the neglected ground, so doth this wisdom (which is •••thly, sensual, devilish, James iii. 15) grow up in the minds of men, by virtue of the corruption of their nature. Why should we be surprised with the product of corrupt wits: their cunning devices to affront heaven, to oppose and run down truth and holiness, and to gratify their own and other men's lust? They row with the stream; no wonder they make great progress: their stock is within them, and increaseth by using of it: and the works of darkness are contrived with the greater advantage, that the mind is wholly destitute of spiritual light, which, if it were in them, in any measure, would so far mar the work, 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin; he does it not as by art, for his seed remaineth in him. But on the other hand, It is a sport for a soul to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom, Prov. x. 2•. To do with wickedness nicely, as the word imports, is as a sport, or a play to a fool; it comes off with him easily; and why, but because he is a fool, and hath not wisdom; which would mar the contrivances of darkness? The more natural a thing is, it is done the more easily.