A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is, by pregnant texts of Scripture vindicated from false glosses / by Anthony Burgess.

SECT. XIII.

The Affections being drawn out to holy Duties from corrupt Motives, shews the Pollution of them.

THirdly, Herein also is apparent the original pollution of our affections, That when they are moved and stirred up in any holy duties, yet it is not a spiritual motive that draweth them out, but some corrupt or unlawfull respect. Thus there is a world of guile and hypocrisie in our affections, we think it is the love of God that affecteth us, when it is love to our selves, to our own glory, to accomplish our own ends: Thus in our sorrow, we think it is for sinne that we grieve, when it is because of temporal evil, or some outward calamity: In∣somuch that this very consideration of the hypocrisie and deceitfulnesse of our affections may be like an Abysse or deep to swallow us up, when the heart is said to be so desperately wicked, and that none can know it but God; by that is meant in a great part our affections: none knoweth the depths of his love, of his fear, of his sorrow; How often doth he blesse himself, when he finds these things mo∣ving in him, especially in holy duties? Whereas (alas) it is not any considera∣tion from God, any heavenly respect moveth him, but some earthly considera∣tion or other: You may observe this in Jehu, what ardent and burning affecti∣ons did he shew in the cause of God, destroying Idolatry, and executing the judgements of God upon his enemies? But what moved his affections all this while? It was not the glory of God, but self-respects, self-advancement: Oh this is the treacherous deceitfulnesse of our affections, we may find them very strong in preaching, in publick prayer with others, and the fire to them be onely vain-glory! Yea our affections may be blown up with our own expressions and delight in them; so that as it is a long while ere thou canst get thy affections up to any holy duty, so it is as difficult to search out, What is the cause of them? Why they rise up? Those in Mat. 7. 21. that would cry Lord, Lord, did by the inge∣mination of the word demonstrate lively affections, yet they were such whom God would bid depart, as not knowing of them: Here therefore is the misery of man, that as all the speculative knowledge in the world, unlesse it be also accom∣pained with an affectionate frame, doth not at all commend us to God, so all hot and strong affections do not presently suppose the truth of grace within: Experi∣ence doth sadly confirm this, that many who have had great affections and work∣ings of heart in the profession of godlinesse, have yet desperately apostatized, and

become at last a senslesse and as stupid about heavenly things, as any prophane ones are: The Jews are said for a while to rejoyce in Johns light, Joh. 5. 35. The word signifieth more then ordinary affections, even such as to make them trepi∣date and leap for joy, yet this was but for a season: So Mat. 13. there are some hearers, who yet had not root enough, that did receive the Word with joy. By these instances it is plain, That our affections are full of deceit, full of falshood, we know not when to trust them; It is hard to tell, what it is that draweth them out, even in our holy duties; and if the godly (though in some measure regenerated) find the power of this deceit upon their affections, certainly the natural man, he is all over cosened, his affections are altogether a lie to him; he saith, he loves God with all his heart; he saith, he is grieved for all his sins, when all the while his affections are moved from other respects.