Obi. ARe those thoughts which are in the minde without any con∣sent of the will to be counted as sin before God?
Ans. We are to distinguish betwixt concupisence and desire,* 1.1 which is either good concupisence, or bad; the good is of two sorts, either perfectly good, or imperfectly good, such as is now in man, mixed with many infirmities and imperfections, which is either naturall in man, as the coveting and desiring of meat and drink, and other things necessary for the use of man, or superna∣turally wrought in man by grace, as is the love and desire of ver∣tue; or it is mixed, partly naturall, and partly supernaturall; as Matrimoniall concupisence for procreation, which hath both a naturall cause or being, and is likewise guided by grace unto a right end, and none of these kinds of good and commendable con∣cupisence is sinne.
Evill concupisence is of three sorts; 1. As Idle, roving, and* 1.2 impertinent thoughts, which the mind may easily reject. 2. Vio∣lent cogitations, which sticketh more closely and nearely, as the immoderate desire of meat and drink, and such things as belong to the necessity of nature, as sumptuous apparrell, and the like. 3. There are filthy and uncleane cogitations, as lasciviousnesse, envie, vain-glory, and the like.
The first of these may be compared to thin Clay that sticketh or cleaveth not; the second to tough Clay, that sticketh fast;