338 rowEas AND CONTESTS Or FLESH AND SPIRIT. the constant strong impressions of the animal spirits revelling In the recesses of the brain And where the disorder rises to such a degree as this, the springs of carnal appetite and passion are soon touched and awakened ; and beingof a kindred nature,are suddenly inflamed ; so that a man of piety may be hurried to consent to sinful practices, under any of those waking or sleeping distractions. In such a case the guilt seems to be lessened so far as the reason is drowned in confusion and darkness, and the thought and conscience overpowered and cheated with false im- pressions. Perhaps, at the end of this disorder, when the man awakes into day-light and reason again, he knows nothing of Whathas passed ; or ifhe recollects the folly, heblushes and mourns over the infirmity ofhis nature, and while he asks forgiveness of God, lie can scarce forgive himself, that he should yield the least consent to crimal inclination. Where the confusion of thought does not arise to such an overwhelming degree, but there are some debatings of reason, some notions of duty, some workings of conscience, and yet the soul complies at last, therethe guilt is increased, and rises higher- in proportion to the exercise of the intellectual faculties. But thiscrime can never become near to the guilt of the same actions, done in a waking hour, or in a season of health, and soundness of mind and memory. I have known a man of serious pietytake the name of God in vain, and curse under the power of distrac- tion, which he would have abhorred with all his soul if he had been in his senses, and not absolutely overpoweredby the disor- dered humours of the flesh. Yet"take this awful caution by the way : That where these disorders or diseases of the brain, sleeping or waking, are caused by our own follyor wickedness, by luxury, by unmortified lusts, or by any immoral practices, the case seems tobe far worse, and perhaps the guilt of every irregular action is proportionably en- hanced andaggravated thereby ; as in the wild freaks of a drunk- ard, who has indulged his, vicious appetite, till it has overcome all his better faculties ; for there reason itself, and the common judgment of mankind, determine the crimes then committed against the society to be justly punishable : He that kills a man ih his drunken fit must beput to death when he is grown sober. And how far God will impute every thing that is criminal, and whether hewill not deal with such a one in rigour, according to the full guilt ofthe crime, can he determined only by God him- self. He sees all the secret motions of the fleshand spirit ; he weighs every circumstance in a true balance ; he knows perfectly all the rules Of strict and impartial justice-; and will judge the world with divine equity andwisdom. Let us watch and pray then, lest we enter into temptation, in the healthful and Waking hours of life : Let us carefully shun all.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=