Christian observations and resolutions, or, The daylie practise of the renewed man, turning all occurrents to spirituall uses, and these uses to his vnion with God I. centurie : vvith a resolution for death, &c. / newlie published by Mr William Struther ...

22. Passions, Tyrannie, and Remeede.

PAssions, are justlie so named, though they breed in vs, yet wee suffer of them, and that in such violence, as scarcelie either allurement of sinne, or prouocation of injurie can worke: It were nothing to see vs by outward folie, drawen out of our selfe, but to suffer that of any inward power, is more strange; and that not so much a po∣wer, as an impotencie: It is not strength, but weaknesse in vs that breedeth Pas∣sions, and yeeldeth to them: a weake defender, maketh a feeble assaulter proue strong: And there is yet worse in it, wee know not either how to pu∣nish

or to remeed it. Both parties are in our selfe, the doing and suffering of Passion, is both of vs, and in vs, and when wee presse to mend it, new Pas∣sions arise in vs, both of griefe that such Passions should bee in vs, and of feare of wrath for them.

I will not excuse my selfe, because of Passions, but rather accuse mee: Excuses of that kinde, are as they who excuse their fault by drunkennesse, the purgation is fouler than the sinne pur∣ged: Passion in it selfe is punishment eneugh, if it lacketh guiltinesse: It so disturbeth man and transporteth him, that the violence of it, is a sufficient chastisement for it.

It is a naturall impotencie, and must bee cured by a supernaturall Grace: When God, in whom is no Passion, reneweth vs to his Image, and wee in all our actions, set him as a Paterne be∣fore vs, wee shall finde a restraint of them. I doubt, if any Passion can a∣ryse in that Soule, so long as it seeth

an vnpassionate God in the face of his meeke Sonne, Iesus Christ: Wee are as farre separated from the meeknesse of Christ, as wee are transported by Passion.