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But every man is tempted, when he is drawne away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sinne: and sinne when it is finished, bringeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 death.
IN the foregoing verse the Apostle James denyeth God to be the authour of temptation unto sinne, in verse (the 15.) he oppo∣seth unto this deniall an affirmation, that man himselfe is the cause thereof; and this Antithesis is denoted by the particle (but.) There is no doubt can be made, but that lust is here taken in an ill sense; but even so it hath a twofold acception, it signifieth either the ha∣bit, or the act.
- 1. Lust is not here taken for the act of lust; because actions are here ascribed unto it [to draw, entice, conceive, bring forth,] it draweth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to sinne, eonceiveth, bringeth forth sinne; and, actionis non est actio, actions are better and more fitly ascribed to an habit, than to an act.
- 2. Lust is not here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for contracted, and acquired habituall lust; because the lust here spoken of, is the cause of all temptations into sinne whatsoever: Every man, whensoever he is tempted in∣to sin, he is drawne away of his own lust, and enticed, and men may be tempted, sometimes into some sins, not by any contracted and acquired habits of lust, as is plaine, in the temptation of Noah into drunkennesse; of Lot into both drunkennesse, and incest; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Peter into a cowardly deniall of his Master, and Saviour.
- 1. The formale, and that is nothing else but the privation and want of originall righteousnesse.
- 2. The materiale, is an inordinate conversion, or inclination of man's faculties, especially of his two appetites rationall and sen∣suall unto the creature, and so it is called lust, or concupiscence