The Doctrine and Practice of Mortification, Chapter 3
CAP. III. Of activity of luſt proved by two particulars.
THat ſinne is thus practicall and full of action will appeare if you confider two things.
1. By the fruitfulnes of ſinne which doth appeare.1. The fruitfulneſſe, and the plentifull increaſe that it doth bring forth.
2. And then the power and vivacity that there is in ſinne, both which will ſet out, that the enemy againſt whom we doe contend, is an active and ſtirring enemy.
1. For the firſt, ſinne,Jam. 1.15. By its expedition in the production of ſinne. it brings forth with much ſpeed and celerity, Luſt when it hath conceived it bringeth forth ſin; and ſinne when it is perfected bringeth forth death. Even as when you caſt a ſtone into a pond, that begets a circle, and that begets a greater, and ſo they multiply untill they bee many, and that on a ſudden. So is it in caſe of ſinne, one ſinne begets another ſpeedily, and the reaſon is, becauſe it is the nature of the worſt kinde of fruit to ſpring the faſteſt; you need not plow for weeds, nor ſowe cockle nor hemlock in the furrowes of your feild, they will grow of themſelves: So is it with the ill weeds of ſinne, they come up of their owne accord; nay, though we labour to weed out theſe corruptions, yet will they ſprout and grow againe; If you aske me why that grace comes on ſo ſlowly, and ſinne with ſuch ſpeed, I anſwer as the Egyptian Midwives did unto Pharaoh when hee asked them why they ſlew not the male children, they anſwered, becauſe they are not as the Egyptian women,Exod. 1.19. but lively, and are ſpeedily delivered. So it is in this caſe, grace at the firſt is weake, compared to a graine of Muſtard-ſeed, and fals into a barren ſoile, our corrupt hearts, and there it is that it comes up ſo ſlowly; but ſinne, that is ſtrong, and is in a ſoyle that it likes, and therfore comes up with more celerity.
2. In the increaſe of ſinne.2. Sinne is fruitfull in that it increaſeth, ſinne, though it be little at the firſt, yet growes apace; a man that beginnes with ſmaller ſinnes, thoſe make way for greater, as it is ſaid of the ſinne of Sodome, Gen. 18 20.it was very great, and the cry was multiplied; that is, as the ſinne increaſed, ſo the cry came; grievous ſinnes doe make a great cry: Hazael was afraid to heare of that wickedneſſe, which after hee was not aſhamed to commit; ſinne is like that cloud which Eliah ſaw, which was at firſt no broader then a mans hand, yet it ſpread, and ſpread till it covered the whole heavens; So it is when men firſt beginne to fall to ſome little, doe they know how they ſhall be carried before that they will return againe:Amos 5.1 Iſrael is called the Virgin Iſrael but behold afterward her gr…at tranſgreſsion and her mighty ſinnes made the prudent to keep ſilence, 13.16.and brought ſuch a ſtorme and inundation of wrath upon them, that a wailing ſhould bee in all ſtreetes and Vine-yards, the day of the Lord ſhould be a day of darkneſſe, &c. When we ſpeak of the works of the fleſh,Gal. 5.19. wee may ſay as Leah ſaid when Gad was born; behold, a troope commeth, as Adultery, Fornication, Uncleannes, &c. ſevēteen in number, and the reaſon of this multiplication of ſinne is in reſpect of the multiplicity of objects each of them being a bait to intice us unto ſinue, and withall, the multiplicity of occaſions, that are as bridges to lead unto evill; that wee had need every day to pray, Lord lead us not into temptation: and the greateſt temptation that can befall a man, is the temptation of his owne heart, for every man is tempted when he is drawne away with his owne concupiſcence and is inticed.
3. In the conſtance of it.3. Laſtly, ſinne is fruitfull in reſpect of the continuance and laſtingneſſe thereof. God complaines of the thoughts and imaginations of mans heart, they are evill, and onelyonly evill, and that continually, contray to all other breeders, who though they have beene fruitfull, yet nature decaies, and time makes them barren; but now ſinne, as it is ſaid, vires acquirit eundo, it gathers ſtrength by its motion; So it is here in ſin, it holds on and goes on; and that as Saint Paul ſpeakes of ill men and ſeducers,2. Tim. 3.13. that they grow worſe and worſe, and as the Prophet complaines, How long ſhall evill thoughts lodge in you, Jer. 4.14.hee doth not ſay that evill thoughts may not be in you, but they ſhould not lodge, the word is pernoctare to lodge all night, that is as if hee ſhould ſay, though you ſinne, beware you continue not in it, though you be angry, let not the Sunne goe downe upon your wrath▪ to fall into ſinne, is as if a man ſhould fall into a deepe pit; and to continue in it, is as if a man ſhould role a great ſtone upon it, for by falling into ſin he fals into the ſnare of the Devill, and by continuance it entangles himſelfe more and more, as a wilde Bull in a net, who the more he rageth the faſter hee is entangled:Eſa. 51.20. And thence it is that cuſtome in ſinne is as hard to bee left, as to waſh an Ethiopian white, or for a Leopard to change his skinne.