2s ue pommyof tide Zíbítie 2tttí.tttev, Chap. II. placency receiv'd the temptation, and by the entice- ment of satan committed adultery with the Creature, from whence the curled race of Sin and MiCeries proceed. Suppofe the Devil had fo dilguis'd the Temptation, that notwithfranding all circumfpe&ion and care Adam couldnot have difcovered its evils his invincible igno- rance had rendered the altion involuntary : But A- dam was confcious of his own aóion, therewas light in his mind to difcern the evil, and ftrength in his will to decline it. For the manner of the defeelion, whe- ther it was from affec}ed Ignorance, or fecure- Neg- led, or tranfport of Paflion, it doth not excuCe: The a&ion it Pelf was of that moment, and the fupreme Law -giver fo worthy of Reverence, that it should have awakened all the powers of his Soul tobeware of that which was Rebellion againft God, and ruine to himfelf. Or fuppofe he had been tried by Torments, whofe extremity and continuance had vehemently oppreft his nature ; this had only leffen'd the guilt, the action had frill been voluntary : for no external force can compel the Will to choofe any thing but under the job 3.6, 2 t. notion of comparative goodnef. Now to choofe Sin rather than pains, and to prefer eafebefore obedience, ishighly dilhonourable toGod, whole Glory ought to be infinitely more valuable to us than Life and all its endearments. And though [harp Pains by difcompo- fng the Body make the Soul unfit for its higheft and nobleft Operations, fo that it cannot perform the ads of Vertue with delight and freedom yet then it may abftain from evil. But this was not Adam's cafe: The Devil had no Powerover him (as over yoh who felt the extremity of his rage, andyet came offmore than conqueror). to difturb his felicity, he prevailed by a Pimple
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