‘Tis this that makes us like corrupted vessels, to pollute all the gifts that are poured into us; those graces and abilities which from God are bestowed upon us, pure and excellent, when they are by us put forth in duties, are not without some favour of our own corruption.

This containes in it, not only an utter deficiency of all good, but also a loathing and disliking of it: Not only a liablenesse to evil, but also an inherent propension, and strong desire to it. All which is as natural to us, as blacknesse to an Ethiopian; and like the fretting Leprosie, adheres to our natures with so much pertinacy, (Levit. 14.45) that it cannot be utterly removed while we are on this side the grave, till these our earthly tabernacles shall be dissolved. No sope or nitre can purge it. (Jer. 2.22) The general deluge could not wash it away; that swept away sinners indeed, but not one sinne. Neither shall the fire of the last day cleanse it.

It does totally overspread both our Inward man. Outward man.

1. Our Inward man is hereby depraved both in respect of 1. Understandings. 2. Consciences. 3. Affections. 4. Wills. 5. Memories.

2. Our Vnderstandings are hereby become full of vanity, inconsideratenesse, ignorance;⁵ neither knowing nor enquiring after God: Every thought, and imagination of the heart being only evil, and that continually. So that we are not of our selves sufficient to think any thing that is good, (2 Cor. 3.5) being given over to a reprobate minde, νοῦν ἀδόκιμον, a minde void of judgement, not liking to retaine God in our knowledge. (Rom. 1.28) Becoming vain in our imaginations, having our wicked hearts darkened.⁶ Being wise to do evil, but foolish to that which is good. Counting the things of God foolishnesse. Being carnally minded, which is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Full of pride, prejudice, and contradiction against all sacred truths, setting up our own imaginations, and fleshly reasonings against the spiritual notions that are dictated to us. Being alienated from the life of God, (Eph. 4.18) through the blindnesse that is in us.

2. Our Consciences are hereby become full of stupidity, and insensiblenesse, past feeling, being feared as with an hot iron; (Eph. 4.19) Altogether defiled; Not performing their office of bearing witnesse,⁷ accusing, or excusing us rightly according to several occasions. Being deaf unto every holy suggestion of Gods Spirit, secure against all the threats, and judgements of the Law.

(Gen. 8.21)3. Our Hearts and Affections being evil from our youth: full of wicked policies, and unsearchable deceits. (Jer. 17.9) Deceitful above all things, and desparately wicked, who can know them? Full of lustings against the Spirit of God: (Gal. 5.7) Sending forth evil thoughts, murthers, adulteries, fornications, thefts, (Mat. 15.19) false witnesse, blasphemies, full of folly and madnesse; preferring empty, transitory contentments, (Eccles. 9.3) before those great matters that concerne our eternity. Altogether obdurate against the means of grace; not to be wrought upon either by hopes or feares, by mercies or judgements; slighting the threats of God; undervaluing his promises; distrusting his power; abusing his patience; quickly revolting,⁸ and backsliding from every holy desire.

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sins? (Pro. 20.9)

4. Our Wills have now lost their first native freedom, making us become servants unto sin:⁹ Bringing us into bondage unto corruption: Being full of loathing and aversnesse, full of enmity, and obstinacy against any thing that is good.

Casting Gods laws behinde our backs, (Psal. 50.17) and hating to be reformed.

5. Our Memories being naturally very unfaithful, (Heb. 2.1) and slippery in letting out things that are good, but very tenacious in evill matters.

II. Our outward man,¹⁰ which was at first created with a kinde of divine Majesty above the other creatures, is now become weak and vile, exposed to all manner of infirmities, diseases, sins. So that we are all over nothing else but a body of sin, (Rom. 6.13) and of death, our members being instruments of unrighteousnesse.

Eyes full of Adultery, Pride, Envy.¹¹

Eares uncircumcised, deaf unto every holy suggestion, easily open and attentive to vanities, lies, slanders.

Tongues unruly, and full of deadly poyson, (Jam. 3.8) conteining a world of iniquity; defiling the whole body, setting on fire the course of nature, (Vers. 6) being themselves set on fire of Hell. Given to unsavory, unedifying discourses, revilings, prophanenesse, blasphemies.¹² That which should be our glory, the best member that we have, is by this Original corruption, become the worst, defiling all the rest.

Our Throat being as an open sepulchre; with our tongues we use deceit, (Rom. 3.13) the poison of aspes is under our lips. (Vers. 14.15.16.17.18) Our mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse; our feet are swift to shed blood; destruction, and misery are in our wayes: and the way of peace have we not known; there is no fear of God before our eyes.

All which will yet appear more deformed and loathsome, if we look upon our own natures in the rage, blasphemies, basenesse, madnesse of other mens lives: There being not any kinde of evil, which either man, or devil hath committed· but there are in our natures the principles and inclinations to it; The best of us being by nature as bad as the worst of sinners.

To which may be added our aptnesse to slight and undervalue the thought of this Original corruption, though it hath already brought so much mischief upon all mankinde, wholly depraved us in our faculties, and principles, and spread a curse and deformity upon the whole creation,

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Footnotes

1. Isa. 48.8. Psal. 51.1. Isa. 1.4. Rom. 11.17. Eph. 2· 1. Vers. 3. Rom. 6.6. Rom. 7.24 Vers. 23. John 3.6. Rom. 7.17. Vers. 21. Heb. 12.1. ↩

2. Job 14.4· Job 15.14 ↩

3. Ps· 8.5.6. ↩

4. Rom. 7.21 Vers. 13 ↩

5. Rom. 3 11 Gen. 6.[…]. ↩

6. Vers. 21. Jer. 4.24. 1 Cor. 2.14 Rom. 8.5. Vers. 7. ↩

7. 1 Tim. 4.2 Tit. 1.15. Rom. 2.15. ↩

8. Jer. 5.23. Pro 14.14 ↩

9. Joh. 8.24. 2 Pet. 2.19 ↩

10. II. ↩

11. 2 Pet 2.14 Act. 7.51. ↩

12. Psal. 57.8. Psal. 108.1 ↩