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

SECT. V.

The Pellution of the Imagination is manifest by the Restlesness of it.

THirdly, The imaginative power of man is greatly polluted, In the restlesness of it, in the perpetual constant workings thereof; insomuch that thereby the sinfulness of it is continual, as the eie is alwayes twinkling: Is there a mo∣ment, wherein thy fancy is not busied about some object or other? And whereas other parts of the soul are subject to sinne, while we are awake only; The will, the mind, they only sinne at that time, this fancy is many times very sinful in the night time; how many polluted and wicked dreames do men fall into at such a time, at which they tremble and abhorre themselves when awakened? Thus though all sleep, yet sinne doth not, but liveth and acteth in the imagi∣nation:

But of the sinfulness of dreames by the corrupt imagination, more af∣terwards: Only for the present let us humble our selves under the perpetual and incessant motion of our sinful fancy, there being no hour or moment wherein we are free from the corrupt stirrings thereof: If there could be a breathing time or a respite from sinne, this would at least lessen the damnable guilt thereof, but to be daily minting and fashioning corrupt imaginations without any intermission; how heavily should it presse us down, and make us to judge our selves worse then beasts, yea equal to the apostate Angels in perpetuity of sinning? For whereas it is said, that in this particular mans wick∣edness is not so great as the Devils, because the Devils sinne continually, they neither slumber or sleep, as God who keepeth Israel doth not; so neither they who oppose Israel; The Devil doth vent his enmity, and never hath any stop therein by any natural impediment. Now whereas in man by reason of sleep, there is to be a natural intermission and interruption of evil, the imagination being corrupted, doth thereby keep the fire of sinne, like that of hell from go∣ing out; Cry out then unto God, because of this daily oppression that is upon thy soul; yea how happy would it be if thou couldst judge it to be an oppressi∣on, and a slavery? but these sinful imaginations are matter of delight and ti∣tillation to thee, thou art pleased and ravished (as it were) with them all the day long.