ESSAY. 328 ful compliance of the soul. Thus all those actions that may justly be called evil and wicked, such as Christ here menti- ons, proceed from the soul, so far as they are truly and pro- perly sinful; and yet the first secret occasions and incentives of many of them may spring very much from the powers of the flesh. Now as I have made it to appear in some good measure that the springs and principles of sin lie very much in our fleshly natures, from the frequent expressions of holy scrip- ture, so it may be made yet more evident still, by these fol- lowing considerations, drawn from reason, observation, and ex- rience. 1. Consider how different are the sins ofmen, according to their peculiar constitutions of flesh and blood. These may be called the sins that easily beset us ; Heb. xii. 1. becauseour tem- perand constitution is always present within us. Those that are of a brisk and sanguine make, whose blood flows high and vigorous, how often are they tempted by the gay scenes of life; to pursue vanity, and to indulge forbidden plea- sures ? Luxury and intemperance are their peculiar vices ; they followafter carnal mirth with eager gust, as well as with long forgetfulness of God, and of things spiritual. By this means they indulge a fatal security, and groundless presumptionof long life here, or happiness hereafter, being ever animated by lively sensual fancies, appetites, and passions. On the other hand, those that have melancholy humours mingled with their natural constitution, are inclined to sullen vices, to an unsociable and uncharitable behaviour among men, as well asthat they areoften tempted under the influenceofthese pre- vailing humours of the body, to despair of the mercies' of God, and upon this account to abandon all religion. Some have a greediness of desire wrought into the very frame of their na- tures ; and these are inclined to selfish and covetous iniquities, and often are found hard-hearted and uncompassionate to the necessities and cries of the poor. Others are sour and peevish in their native temper, having an excess of sharp juices mingled with their flesh and blood ; and these areeasily awakened to sud- den wrath and resentment, and kindled into a flame of sinful anger upon the first and slightest provocation. I might instance in several other qualities of the constitution, whereby multitudes of iniquities arise amongst men, and suffici- ently discover that the flesh is a most fruitful spring of tempta- tions, and a constant occasion of sin. 2. Consider howmany particular sins we may be inclined to by reason of some sudden distemper of bodyor long and ha- bitual diseases that attend flesh andblood. When the sour or acid humours in animal nature rise to an irregular height, or x 2
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