The doctrine and practice of mortification wherein is discovered the matter, manner, and means thereof, together with the blessed event that comes by it : necesary for every Christian to know and practice, that will live comfortably, and die peaceably / by Thomas Wolfall ...

CAP. III. Of activity of lust proved by two particulars.

THat sinne is thus practi∣call and full of action will appeare if you confider two things.

1. The fruitfulnesse, and the plentifull increase that it doth bring forth.

2. And then the power and vivacity that there is in sinne, both which will set out, that the enemy against whom we doe contend, is an active and stirring enemy.

1. For the first, sinne, it brings forth with much speed and celerity, Lust when it hath conceived it bringeth forth sin; and sinne when it is perfected bringeth forth death. Even as when you cast a stone into a pond, that begets a circle, and

that begets a greater, and so they multiply untill they bee many, and that on a sudden. So is it in case of sinne, one sinne begets another speedily, and the reason is, because it is the nature of the worst kinde of fruit to spring the fastest; you need not plow for weeds, nor sowe cockle nor hemlock in the furrowes of your feild, they will grow of themselves: So is it with the ill weeds of sinne, they come up of their owne accord; nay, though we labour to weed out these corruptions, yet will they sprout and grow againe; If you aske me why that grace comes on so slowly, and sinne with such speed, I answer as the Egyptian Midwives did unto Pharaoh when hee asked them why they slew not the male children, they answered, because they are not as the Egyptian women, but lively,

and are speedily delivered. So it is in this case, grace at the first is weake, compared to a graine of Mustard-seed, and fals into a barren soile, our corrupt hearts, and there it is that it comes up so slowly; but sinne, that is strong, and is in a soyle that it likes, and therfore comes up with more celerity.

2. Sinne is fruitfull in that it increaseth, sinne, though it be little at the first, yet growes apace; a man that beginnes with smaller sinnes, those make way for greater, as it is said of the sinne of Sodome, it was very great, and the cry was multiplied; that is, as the sinne increased, so the cry came; grievous sinnes doe make a great cry: Hazael was afraid to heare of that wickednesse, which after hee was not a∣shamed to commit; sinne is like that cloud which Eliah

saw, which was at first no broader then a mans hand, yet it spread, and spread till it covered the whole heavens; So it is when men first beginne to fall to some little, doe they know how they shall be carri∣ed before that they will return againe: Israel is called the Virgin Israel but behold after∣ward her gr••at transgression and her mighty sinnes made the pru∣dent to keep silence, and brought such a storme and inundation of wrath upon them, that a wailing should bee in all streetes and Vine-yards, the day of the Lord should be a day of darknesse, &c. When we speak of the works of the flesh, wee may say as Leah said when Gad was born; behold, a troope commeth, as Adultery, Fornication, Un∣cleannes, &c. sevēteen in num∣ber, and the reason of this mul∣tiplication of sinne is in re∣spect of the multiplicity of

objects each of them being a bait to intice us unto sinue, and withall, the multiplicity of occasions, that are as brid∣ges to lead unto evill; that wee had need every day to pray, Lord lead us not into temp∣tation: and the greatest temp∣tation that can befall a man, is the temptation of his owne heart, for every man is temp∣ted when he is drawne away with his owne concupiscence and is inticed.

3. Lastly, sinne is fruit∣full in respect of the continu∣ance and lastingnesse thereof. God complaines of the thoughts and imaginations of mans heart, they are evill, and onely evill, and that con∣tinually, contray to all other breeders, who though they have beene fruitfull, yet na∣ture decaies, and time makes them barren; but now sinne, as it is said, vires acquirit eun∣do,

it gathers strength by its motion; So it is here in sin, it holds on and goes on; and that as Saint Paul speakes of ill men and seducers, that they grow worse and worse, and as the Prophet complaines, How long shall evill thoughts lodge in you, hee doth not say that evill thoughts may not be in you, but they should not lodge, the word is pernoctare to lodge all night, that is as if hee should say, though you sinne, beware you continue not in it, though you be an∣gry, let not the Sunne goe downe upon your wrath▪ to fall into sinne, is as if a man should fall into a deepe pit; and to continue in it, is as if a man should role a great stone upon it, for by falling into sin he fals into the snare of the Devill, and by continuance it entangles himselfe more and more, as a wilde Bull in a net,

who the more he rageth the faster hee is entangled: And thence it is that custome in sinne is as hard to bee left, as to wash an Ethiopian white, or for a Leopard to change his skinne.

Notes

• 1. By the fruitfulnes of sinne which doth ap∣peare.
• Jam. 1.15. By its ex∣pedition in the pro∣duction of sinne.
• Exod. 1.19.
• 2. In the increase of sinne.
• Gen. 18 20.
• Amos 5.1
• 13.16.
• Gal. 5.19.
• 3. In the constance of it.
• 2. Tim. 3.13.
• Jer. 4.14.
• Esa. 51.20.