field of Thistles, for a body of Pikes; not onely that which is true, but that which is Feigned; That which is but colour, which is but round, which is but a superficies, but an apparition, but a shadow, being carelesly let in, and entertain'd, may rayse this Tumult and Sedition in the Soul: a faire promising Temptation comes upon parley, and treaty, and conditions, insinuates and winnes upon us with its smiles and flatteries, but a fearfull, and boy sterous Tempta∣tion, playeth upon us with all its Artillery, with smart, and shame, and poverty, and Imprisonment, and Death, makes forward with a kind of force and violence, Et tumultuantes de gradu dcijcit, and o∣verthrows us with some noise. And as the senses conveigh the Ten∣tations, so do the Affections, if we watch them not, and suppresse them, make sensible alterations in the heart, and make themselves visible to the very Eye, profectò saith Pliny, in oculis animus inhabitat, the mind dwells in the eye, there it is visible to be seen; in its joy it leapeth there, in its grief it languisheth, in its feare it droopeth there, in its Anger it threatens there, in its Hope it looks out cheer∣fully, and in its Despaire, it sinks in again, and leaves the living man with no more motion, then a Carkasse. The heart of man changeth his countenance, saith the Wise man; If we stand not upon our Guard, the state, and peace of our mind will soon be over-thrown, Respexit oculis (saith St. Amb.) et sensum mentis evertit os libavit, & cri∣men retulit, the man did but look back, and his mind was shaken, he did but open his eare, and lost a good intention, he did but lightly Touch, and shadow the Object, and took in a sinne, he did but Touch, and was on fire.
You see now the force and strength of the Enemy, you see him in his mine, and you see him in his March, with his flatteries and Menacies, with his glories, and Terrors, with his occasions and Ar∣guments, and if to these you oppose your Prudency and watchful∣ness, your Fortitude, and Christian Resolution, you put him to flight, or Tread him under your foot.
For first, Temptations may enter the senses without sinne, for to behold the Object, to Touch or Tast (which are called belluini sensus, our more Brutish senses) is not to commit sinne, because God him∣self hath thus ordered, and framed the senses by their severall in∣struments and Organs, auditum in auribus fodit, visum in ceulis accen∣dit, gustum in ore conclusit, saith the Father, he hath kindled up light in the eyes, he hath digged the hollow of the Eare, for hearing, and hath shut up the Tast in the mouth, or palate, and hath given man his senses very fit for the triall, and reward of vertue; for as he made the eye to see, so he made every thing in the world to be seene, Frustra ii essent si non viderentur, saith Amor. they were to no End, if they were not to be seen, and seen they may be to our