CHAP.I. upon the Epiflle of J A M ll s. VB R.S . 14· 109 Son,give me thy heart, whic~ .is the feat of defires. . The chtld~eo ofGod, whm they plead thetr mnocency, urge thetr dejirCJ, they ~ fail in duty· ""but their dejires are to the remembrance of hu name. "r.ehe,t. II The firfr thing by which fin difcovereth it {elf, is by lufl: or defire. 1 a,, 16 · 8 • All aCl:ions have their rife from fome inclination and tendency of rhe defire towards the object: Before there is any thought or con[ul- - cation in the foul, there IS ~~s~1s a general tendency or bent in the foul. Well then, look to your lufis or dcfires, the whole man is fwayed by them: Men are worldly or heavenly, as their defires are; appetite followe.th li!e: theJPirit hath its luftings, as well as the jlefb: See how 'cts wtth you. . . ; • The 'Way that luft takfth to tnfnare the foul u 6y force fl-nd Obfervat. 3. fotttery, either drawn away or intifed. Firff, By violence, s~sJ..KGp.iV~,drawnaway, baled with it; One 'WaJ of kzzowing defires to be irregular u, if they are violent and over-pleafing to the flefh. When affeCtions are impetuous, you have ju!l: cau(e to[ufpefl them, not tofatujie them. Davidwould not touch the waters of Bethlehem when he longed for them, z Sam. Z3· 7· Rage of defires can never be lawful: (jreedinefl is anote ofHnclea;mefs, Ephef. 4· I 9· When the heart boileth or pameth, ~cisnot love, but luff: When you find any fuch force up– on your fpirits towards carnal objetls, if you would be innocent, · complain and cry out, as the ravifhed Virgin under the Law, if the cryed out, the was guiltlefs. ~ris a fign that fin bath not gained _your confent, but committetha rape upon your fouls, when you cry out to God, RfJm. 7• 24. 0 'Wretchedman that I am, "Who jhPelt deliver me ? You may difcern this force upon your fouls, · 1. When your defires will not endure confultation, or the con– fideration of reafon ; but you are carryed on by a bruitith rage, as Jer.5.8. They 'Were tU fedhorfes, every one neighed after hu neigh– bours 'Wife : They had no more commands of themfelves then a fed horfe. SoJer. 8. 6. Every one turnethinto hi4 cot~rfe, tU the horfe into thebattel: The rage of the horfe is fl:irred up by a war– like noife, and then they confront danger, and prefs onupon the pikes, and the heat of the battel; fo _they go on with an unbridled licence, againfr all rea(on and reHraints, without any tounfel and recollection : Your lulls will not allow you the pawfe of reafon , anddifcourfe. , 2. When they grow more outragi1m hy oppoJtion, and that · · · ~ 3 litt~e
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