[ A] reins of reason nor God to keep it in, it never thinks of either of
them, and unless by chance or by Gods mercy it fall into their
hands, 'tis likely to run riot for ever. Being once let loose it ran∣ges,
as if there were neither power on earth to quell, nor in Hea∣ven
to punish it. Thus do you see how fluid, how inconstant the
soul is of its own accord, how prone it is, how naturally inclined
to run over like a stream over the banks, and if it be not swathed,
and kept in, if it be left to the licentious condition of it self, how
[ B] ready is it to contemn both Reason and God, and run head-long in∣to
Atheism. Nay we need not speak so mercifully of it, this very
licentiousness is the actual renouncing of Religion, this very walk∣ing
after their own lusts, is not only a motive to this sin of scoffing,
but the very sin it self.
A false Conception in the womb is only a rude, confused, ugly
Chaos, a meer lump of flesh, of no kind of figure or resemblance,
gives only disappointment, danger, and torment to the Mother.
[ C] 'Tis the soul at its entrance which defines, and trims, and polishes
into a body, that gives it eyes, and ears, and legs, and hands, which
before it had not distinctly and severally, but only rudely altoge∣ther
with that mass or lump. Thus is it with the Man, till Religi∣on
hath entred into him as a soul to inform, and fashion him, as long
as he lives thus at large, having no terms, or bounds, or limits to
his actions, having no form, or figure, or certain motion defined
him, he is a Mola, a meer lump of man, an arrant Atheist: you
[ D] cannot discern any features or lineaments of a Christian in him;
he hath neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear, nor hands to practise
any duty that belongs to his peace. Only 'tis Religion must take
him up, must smooth and dress him over, and according to its
Etymon, must religare, swathe and bind up this loose piece of
flesh, must animate and inform him, must reduce him to some set
form of Christianity, or else he is likely after a long and fruitless
travel to appear a deformed monstrous Atheist. But not to deal a∣ny
[ E] longer upon Simile's, lest we seem to confound and perplex a
truth by explaining it, I told you the licentious voluptuous life
was it self perfect Heathenism. For can you imagine a man to
be any but a Gentile, who hath abandoned all love, all awe, all
fear, all care of God (any one of which would much contract
and draw him into compass) who hath utterly put off every garb
of a Christian, who hath enjoy'd the reins so long, that now he is
not sensible, or at least contemns the curb or snaff••le if he be but
[ F] check't with it, gets it in his teeth and runs away with it more fierce∣ly.
The Heathen are noted not so much that they worshipt no God
at all, but that they worshipped so many, and none of them the
true. Every great friend they had, every delight and pleasure, e∣very
thing that was worth praying for, straight proved their God,
and had its special Temple erected for its Worship. So that do but