conceived and in Iniquity brought forth I know many bold inquiring Wits have presum'd to examine the Decrees of God concerning the lapsed State of Mankind but 't is much safer to admire the Divine Providence than to argue to believe the Revelation than to dispute against it But although the corrupt Nature virtually includes all Sin yet there is not an equal propensity to all in every Person as in waste neglected Grounds some Weeds are ranker and rifer than others from the quality of the Soil so some kinds of Sin are more predominant and evident in the Lives of Man according to their peculiar Dispositions For the unfolding this we are to consider That the Soul of Man in its state of Union has a continual dependance upon the Body both in its intellectual and moral Operations Consider it as a Spirit and in its separate State 't is capable of acting as freely and independently as those pure Intelligences that are distant from alliance with gross Matter but consider the Spirit as a Soul consociated with a Body of Flesh there is a strange circling Influence between the Soul and the Body The Dispositions of the Body suitably incline the Soul and the Inclinations of the Soul affect the Body In the Intellectual Operations as the Animal Spirits are qualified some are of subtil and quick Wits others of stay'd and solid Minds some are fit for Contemplation others for Action And in moral Actions the Soul works by the active Power of the sensitive Faculties and the Actions resemble the Instruments The Complexion of our Minds as well as Manners is usually suitable to our natural Temperature I will more distinctly unfold this In the Humane Body there is the united Figure of the World the heavy Earth the liquid Water the subtil Air and active Fire enter into its Composition from the mixture of these Ingredients results the Temperature of the Bodies and as the Qualities proper to them are predominant Men are denominated Sanguine or Melancholy Cholerick or Flegmatick Such as the Constitution is such are the Inclinations and such are the Actions that flow from them 'T is observable that brute Creatures are either fierce or tame bold or fearful stupid or docile as their Blood is hotter or colder of a finer or thicker Contexture And in Children there is an early disclosure of contrary Dispositions according to their Temperaments thus some are soft and ductile others stiff and stubborn some are of a sweet pliable Temper drawn by Counsel and the Cords of Love others of a baser cast will not be led by Reason and Kindness but must be constrain'd by Fear some are of an ingenuous Disposition blushing at any thing that is indecent and disparaging others defy all Modesty and will not change Countenance though surpriz'd in a soul Action As the inclination in Animals to Actions proper to their Kind is discovered by their Offers before they are fit for Action Birds will attempt to fly before their Wings are form'd so in Children Inclinations to particular Vices appear according to their different Constitutions before their sensitive Faculties are capable of compleat Acts. More particularly those Persons in whose Complexion Blood is predominant are usually light and vain sensual and riotous insolent and aspiring bold and presumptuous Those in whom Phlegm is the principal Ingredient are idle and slow cold and careless in things of Moment the most ardent Exhortations are lost upon them as Bags of Wool dead the force of Bullets in yielding without resistance Those who are timerous and deeply tinctur'd with Melancholy are suspicious sowr and inexorable The dark shadows of their Minds are believed as visible Testimonies of Dangers and their silent Suspicions as real Proofs They are jealous of all Persons and Things If in Conversation there be speech of the Vertues they are conscious to want or the Vices they are secretly guilty of they imagine 't is directed to their Reproach They are intractable and often revengeful for Melancholy is a viscous Humour that retains the Impressions of the Passions Those who are Cholerick by Nature are heady various violent and create perpetual trouble to themselves and others Such a Soul and such a Body united are like two Malefactors fastned with one Chain In short according to the Elemental Crasis of our Bodies Objects affect our Senses and the Fancy with the lower Appetite are the Centre of the Senses and there is so near an activity and refeference between the Passions and the reasonable Faculties that the Understanding and Will receive Impressions accordingly as the Passions are excited and moved 'T is observable that the corrupt Nature in the Language of Scripture is usually call'd Flesh not only as 't is transmitted by Carnal Propagation but as 't is drawn forth by Carnal Objects and exercis'd by the Carnal Faculties And as the same Constitution is heightned in some and is in a remisser degree in others so the Lusts proper to it are more or less exorbitant as the same sort of Vines produce a stronger or weaker Grape according to the quality of the Air and Soil wherein they are planted That vicious Inclinations spring from the different Temperament of Mens Bodies there is pregnant proof in the visible diversity of Lusts that are peculiar in degrees of Eminence in some Families some Countries and the several Ages of Mens Lives We often see hereditary Vices transmitted by descent Some Families are voluptuous others vindictive some sordid and covetous others profuse some ambitious others servile resembling their Parents from whom the secret Seeds of those Dispositions are ingenerate in their Temper So in different Climates according to the Impression made on the Natives by the Air and Diet they are distinguish'd by their proper Vices not so generally found in other Nations as by their Countenances some are formal and superstitious others wild and barbarous some are crafty and treacherous others are wanton and luxurious As some Diseases reign in some Countries that are less frequent and not so fatal in other places The Apostle tells us of the Cretians That they are always Lyars evil Beasts and slow Bellies their habitual Vices fastned this universal Character upon them And according to the alteration made in the Bodies of Men in the several Ages of Life their vicious Affections run in several Channels the Spring is the same corrupt Nature and the Issue will be the same the Lake of Fire but the Course is different St. John distinguishes the Corrupt Inclinations that are predominant in the World under three Titles The Lusts of the Flesh and the Lusts of the Eyes and Pride of Life These Lusts have their proper Seasons and successively take the Throne in Mens Hearts In Youth the Lusts that in propriety are called the Lusts of the Flesh imperiously reign Youth is a kind of natural Drunkenness the Blood runs Races and with a Heat and Rapture hurries many into sensual Excess and Riots Youth is highly
are capable of Instruction and Discipline and by coming near to Reason have a little imitation of Liberty they are rewarded or punished But Man in the condition wherein he was created had perfect freedom becoming the dignity of the reasonable Creature and was enrich'd with all the Graces of which Original Righteousness was compounded the harmonious Orders and coherent Dispositions of the Soul and Body qualified him for his Duty But in the state wherein his voluntary Sin has sunk him the Body is often distemper'd by the annoyance of the Mind and the Soul pays an unnatural and injurious Tribute to the vicious Appetites of the Body And when Corruption is heightned by Custom and the natural Propensity inflam'd by Temptations any Lust becomes more irresistible So that without a new Nature inspir'd from Above they cannot rescue themselves from the Bondage of Sin. Now the moral Impotence in Men to vanquish their Lusts tho it will be no Apology at the Day of Judgment yet it will discourage them from making resistance for who will attempt an impossibility Despair of Success relaxes the active Powers cuts the Nerves of our Endeavours and blunts the edg of Industry 'T is related of the West-Indians that upon the first incursion of the Spaniards into their Country they tamely yielded to their Tyranny for seeing them clad in Armour which their Spears could not pierce they fancied them to be the Children of the Sun invulnerable and immortal But an Indian carrying a Spaniard over a River resolved to try whether he were mortal and plung'd him under Water so long till he was drown'd From that Experiment they took courage and resolv'd to kill their Enemies who were capable of dying and recover their dear Liberty lost by so foolish a Conceit Thus Men will languish in a worse Servitude if they fancy the Lusts of the Flesh their intimate Enemies to be insuperable Fear congeals the Spirits and disables from noble Enterprises which Hope persuades and Courage executes Now we have an Army of Conquerors to encourage us in the Spiritual War with the Flesh the World and Satan Enemies in combination against us How many Saints have preserv'd themselves unspotted from the most alluring Temptations they were not Statues without sensible Faculties but ordered them according to the Rule of Life they were not without a conflict of Carnal Passions but by the Holy Spirit subdued them and though some obtain'd a clearer Victory than others yet all were victorious by Divine Grace The Examples of so many Holy and Heavenly Men prove as clearly and convincingly that the strongest Lusts may be subdued as the walking of Diogenes demonstrated there was progressive motion against the Sophistical Arguments of Zeno. I can do all things saith the Apostle through Christ that strengthens me To Omnipotent Grace all things are easy Our Saviour speaking of the extream difficulty of a Rich Man's Salvation That 't is as easy for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle as for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven presently mitigates the Difficulty what is impossible to Men is possible to God. He can sanctify a Rich Man that his Humility shall be as low as his Estate is rais'd above others that his Affection shall be Heavenly in the affluence of the World that trust in God shall be his dearest Treasure Divine Grace is a sure Fountain of Assistance to all that sincerely seek it 'T is the Promise of God Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more with Idols The Idols that charm'd their Imaginations should be rejected with deep abhorrence Our Saviour cur'd the Paralitick Person that for 38 Years had been in a desperate Case incurable by natural Remedies an Emblem of the Efficacy of Divine Grace in curing the most inveterate Habits of Sin. There are recorded some eminent Instances of the Power of Grace in changing the Nature of Men. Nicodemus came to our Saviour conceal'd at first by Night as being asham'd or afraid of Observation in the Day But when he was born again by the renovation of the Spirit what an admirable change was wrought in him with a holy heat of Affection he defended our Saviour when alive in the presence of the Pharisees his unrighteous and implacable Enemies he brought costly Preparations for his Funeral when dead And these two glorious effects of his Valour are recorded by St. John with this addition This is that Nicodemus that came to Jesus by Night No Passion is more ungovernable than Fear yet even the Apostles did not express such fidelity and fervency for the Honour of their Master Another Instance is of the Jaylor that kept the Apostles Prisoners he was of a harsh cruel Temper a quality adherent to his Office but Grace so intenerated and softned his Heart that he took them the same hour of the Night and washed their Stripes Acts 16. 33. A visible and suddain effect of the Spirit of Love and Power and of a sound Mind 'T is recorded of many who used curious Arts they brought their magical Books though counted worth fifty thousand pieces of Silver and burnt them so mightily grew the Word of God and prevail'd How insuperable soever Sin is to naked Nature it may be subdued by Grace St. John gives an honourable Testimony of the Christians to whom he wrote My little Children ye are of God and have overcome the evil One for the Spirit that is in you is greater than that which is in the World. The Holy Spirit is not only greater in himself than the Tempter but as fortifying weak Christians is superior to the Evil Spirit with all his Train of Artillery the manifold Temptations which the World affords in his War against our Souls Satan takes advantage not only from our Security but our Pusillanimity we are therefore commanded to resist the Devil and he will flee from us What is observed of the Crocodile is applicable to the great Enemy of our Salvation He is terrible in his Assaults upon the faint-hearted but flies from those who are watchful to resist his Temptations To excite Christians to make serious and hopeful Trials for the subduing the strongest Corruptions I will select two Examples of the vertuous Heathens who restrain'd Anger and Lust that are the most rebellious Passions against the Empire of the Mind Socrates by natural Temper was Cholerick yet he had so far reduc'd his Passions under the command of Reason that upon any violent Provocation his Countenance was more placid and calm his Voice more temperate and his Words more obliging Thus by wise Counsel and Circumspection he obtain'd a happy Victory over himself The other is of young Scipio the Roman General in Spain who when a Virgin of exquisite Beauty was presented to him among other Captives religiously abstained from touching her and restor'd her to the Prince to whom she was espous'd How do such Examples of the poor Pagans who in the glimmerings of
rectitude in the discharge of their Office Judges should so impartially and with that noble Resolution perform their Duty as to disourage all Attempts to pervert them Zeuxes having painted a Boy carrying some Grapes so coloured according to Nature that the Birds peck'd at them An Observer said The Birds discredited the Picture for if the Boy had been drawn with equal Life they had not been so bold to fly at the Grapes a sign they fancied the Grapes true and the Boy painted Thus whoever tempts those who sit in Judicature to unworthy Things disgraces their Dignity and constructively declares that he esteems them to have an appearance of Vertue without sincere Zeal for it And how many who are pleaders by fallacious Colours commend a bad Cause and discredit a Good and thereby expose themselves to that terrible denunciation Wo be them that call Good Evil and Evil Good. A degenerous Mind and mercenary Tongue will plead any Cause to obtain the Ends of Avarice and Ambition as if according to what an Italian Lawyer said of himself They were the Advocates of their Clients and not of Justice In short every Calling has its Temptations In the various ways of Commerce there are deceitful Arts which an upright Man observes and abhors Some Callings expose to more Temptations than others so that without Circumspection and Care Men are undone in the way of their Callings Some ingage Persons in such a throng of Business that from one rising of the Sun to another they never seriously remember God or their Souls 'T is therefore a Point of great Wisdom in the choice of a Calling with a free Judgment to consider what is least liable to Temptations and affords more freedom of serving God and regarding our Spiritual State for the Body is not the intire Man and the present Life is not his only Duration The Apostle directs Christians to chuse such a State of Life that they may have an advantage of attending upon the Lord without distraction I shall add That the several Relations wherein we stand as Husbands Parents Masters and Wives Children Servants have peculiar Temptations and many whose general Conversation seems fair and blameless are not observant of their Relative Duties A Husband may be harsh and unkind a Parent fond and viciously indulgent 't was Ely's Sin that brought Ruin upon his Family a Master may be severe and rigorous Superiors who are to instruct and govern Families by Holy Counsels and Examples often neglect their Duty and by their evil Carriage set a Copy which their Children and Servants transcribe and derive a woful Guilt upon themselves from their multiplied Sins And how often are those in lower Relations careless of their proper Duties Wives disrespectful and not observant of their Husbands Children disobedient Servants unfaithful If Conscience be inlightned and tender it will regard the whole compafs of our Duty it will see and feel our sinful neglects in any kind and make us careful according to the extent of its Obligation 2. The opposite States of Prosperity and Adversity have suitable Temptations adherent to them Prosperity is beset with the thickest and most dangerous Temptations In a Garden the Tempter lay in ambush and made use of the Fruit that was pleasant to the Taste and pleasant to the Eye and desireable for Knowledg and by those Allurements corrupted and ruin'd our first Parents to the loss of their Innocence and Felicity Although Prosperity be a Blessing in it self yet 't is often more destructive than Adversity by the inseparable and ingaging Snares that surround the Persons that enjoy it Pride Luxury Security Impiety grow and flourish in Prosperity Affliction calls home the wandring Spirit makes us reflect with solemnity upon our selves excites us to arm our Minds with Religious Resolutions against the World whereas Prosperity relaxes and dissolves the Spirit and foments the Lusts of the Flesh. Those who live in the Courts of Princes where the Height of Honour and the Centre of Pleasure are where Ambition Hypocrisy Avarice and Sensuality reign are encircled with dangerous Inchantments and usually are charm'd and corrupted by them The Court Life is splendid to the Eye but very perilous like a Ship that is finely carv'd painted but so leaky that without continual pumping it cannot be kept above Water so without the strictest guard over their Hearts and Senses the prosperous cannot escape the Shipwrack of a good Conscience and fall into many foolish Lusts that drown Men in Perdition Yet this state of Life many aspire to as the most happy When Lot separated from Abraham he chose the pleasant fruitful Country that was like the Garden of the Lord. Sad choice the Land was the best but the Inhabitants the worst Within a short time the cry of their Sins reach'd as high as the Throne of God and brought down showrs of Fire and Brimstone that turned that natural Paradise into an Hell. Riches has a Train of Temptations and Poverty is not exempt from them 'T was the wise Prayer of Agur Give me neither Poverty nor Riches lest I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord or lest I be poor and steal and take the Name of my God in vain A full Estate intirely possesses the Heart and excludes the eternal World from the Thoughts and Affections 't is therefore wise Advice If Riches increase set not your Heart upon them intimating they are a Snare to the most in the corrupt State. They often induce in Mens Minds an ungrateful Oblivion of their Divine Benefactor as 't is charg'd upon Israel Their Hearts were exalted therefore they have forgotten me They incline Men to presume upon Self-sufficiency and to rob God of the Homage that is due from his Creatures an humble thankful dependance upon his Providence every day The Psalmist saith They trust in their Wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their Riches They are engaging Snares to renounce Religion when-ever the Sincere and open profession of it exposes our Estates to hazard Briefly as the Israelites made an Egyptian Idol of their Egyptian Jewels so worldly Things are abus'd for worldly Lusts. The most who enjoy Prosperity perish by the abuse of it 'T is a rare effect of Divine Grace to preserve the Heart and Conversation pure in such a contagious Air when a thousand fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right Hand And the contrary state of Poverty and Affliction in any kind if sharp has its peculiar Temptations Discontent and the use of unlawful Means to obtain what they want and desire is the Sin of the Poor The Afflicted are ready to faint under the weight of Sorrow The loss of one Comfort blasts all the Content of their Lives There is a perpetual consumption of their Thoughts and Time in revolving the afflicting Circumstances of their Condition and they are apt to think as if God were regardless or very severe to them Fearful depth they