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SECT. XVII.
It is not in that orderly Subordination to the rational part of man, as it was in the Primitive Condition.
15. THe imagination is hereby deprived, That it is not now in that orderly subordination to the rational part of man, as it was in its primitive con∣dition. Every thing in Adam was harmonical, he was not infested with need∣less and wandering Imaginations; Even the birds of the air, as well as the beasts of the field God brought to Adam, that he should give names to them; The birds though flying in the air, yet come and submit to him; so it was in his soul; Those volatique Imaginations and flying thoughts which might arise in Adam's soul, they were all within his power and command, neither did any troublesomly interpose in his holy meditation; but now how predominant is thy imagination over thee? How are good thoughts and bad thoughts con∣joyned, as there were clean and unclean beasts at the same time in the Ark? Especially doest thou not labour and groan under thy wandring imaginations, even in thy best duties, and when thy heart is in the best frame? Is not this the great Question thou propoundest to thy self, How may I be freed from wan∣dering thoughts and roving Imaginations in my addresses to God? Oh that I were directed how to clip the wings of these birds, for they are my burden and my heavy load all the day long? Surely the experience of this in thy self may teach thee what a deep and mortal wound original sinne hath given every part of thee: Hadst thou the Image of God in the full perfection of it, as Adam once had, as Christs humane nature had, and as we shall have when glorified in Heaven, then there would not be one wandring thought, one roving imagi∣nation left as a thorn in thy side to offend and grieve thee? This imagination being of such a subtil and quick motion, doth presently flie from one thing to another, runneth from one object to another, so that hereby a great deal of sinne is committed in the very twinkling of an eye. The soul indeed being si∣nite in his essence, cannot think of all things together, but not to consider that which it ought to do, or to rove to one object, when it should be fastned on another: This is not a natural, but a sinfull infirmity thereof.