SECT. XIX.
How prone it is to receive the Devils Impressions and Suggestions.
LAstly, The imagination is greatly polluted, In that it is so ready and prone to receive the Devils impressions and suggestions. When we lost original righteousness, which is the image of God, not only original sinne like an uni∣versal leprosie did succeed in the room thereof, but the Devil also did there∣upon seize upon us as his owne: our souls and all the parts and powers there∣of are his habitation; he reigneth in the hearts of all by nature, we are all his captives; so that as a man is said to dwell in his own house, it is his home, he may do what he will, such a right and claim hath the Devil to a mans soul by nature, he dwells in it, he moveth and reigneth in it: Now the imagination is that room of the soul wherein he doth often appear. Indeed (to speak exact∣ly) the Devil hath no efficient power over the rational part of a man, he can∣not change the will, he cannot alter the heart of a man, neither doth he know the thoughts of a man, so that the utmost he can do in tempting of a man to sinne, is by swasion and suggestion only; but then. How doth the Devil do this? even by working upon the imagination. Learned men make this his me∣thod, that he observeth the temper and bodily constitution of a man, and there∣upon suggests to his fancy, and injects his fiery darts thereinto, by which the mind and will come to be wrought upon; for it is Aristotl's rule, That Phantasmata movent intellectum, sicut sensila sensum; so that as the object of sense, being present, doth presently move the sense; so do phantasmes and imaginations move the understanding. The Devil then, though he hath no imperious efficacy over thy will, yet because he can thus stirre and move thy imagination, and thou being naturally destitute of grace canst not withstand these suggestions; hence it is that any sinne in thy imagination, though but in the outward works of the soul, yet doth quickly lay hold on all; and indeed by this meanes do arise those horrible delusions that are in many erronious wayes of Religion, all is because their imaginations are corrupted; yea, how often are these diabolical illusions of the imagination taken for the gracious opera∣tions of Gods Spirit? Divines give many excellent Rules, how we may discern between those delusions of the imagination by Satan, and the savourie work∣ings of Gods Spirits in illumination, and consolations: It is not my purpose to enter on that Subject, only bewail and humble thy self under this, that the Devil hath such command over thy fancy, that he can so quickly dart in, like