Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 40. n. 2.

Of which it may be observed; That with no other Passion men are so strongly assaulted as with lusts and sen∣sual loves; Therefore, Hos. 4.11. It is said to take away the heart: No Passion, that so much increaseth the desire of it the more we descend to a particular cogitation, and discussion of it: So that it is not to be conquered by wrestling with it, but by running away from it: None that in its acts so captivates and incarnates the Soul, and re∣strains its liberty of reasoning or thinking of any thing else. Therefore God in pitty to man hath provided him a law∣ful remedy thereof by Marriage: But yet still left him un∣der

under great restraints, confining him to one single person; and most severely prohibiting the satiating thereof in any other way, either with any other person, or by himself. And such sins (great varieties of which are left in man's power) we find above most other faults exceedingly ag∣gravated, both for the great offence they give to God's own Holiness and Purity; and for the great dishonour and defilement they bring to the bodies of such persons, whom he first created after his own Image, and since hath made Members of the Body of Christ, and Temples of the Holy Ghost; and from the beginning hath cast a natural shame and modesty upon him, as to the committing of these more than of any other, Crimes. And such carnal sins we also find, beyond almost any other, pursued with most severe judgments. For all which I must recommend these Texts and Passages of Holy Scripture to your serious meditation.