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The Allegory is good; it is the highth of the Animal Spirits which Occasions all the Exorbitances in the Affections, and those Heats are to be abated by Austerities and Discipline. Nature calls for it, whether Religion calls for it or no; it is a Political, as well as a Physical Method; Prudence will direct; and any Physician, if you were honestly to tell him your Case, would take it as a Disease in the Blood, an Inflammation and Fever in the Head, or elsewhere, and would prescribe you just such Physick, such Abstinence, and such Mortifications as I mention, as the best Medicine for it as a Distemper.
I am the longer upon this Subject of Abstinence and Mortification in this Place, because the Pretence in this Article is, the Strength of Inclination is too great; and that we cannot compleat it, tho' it ought rather to be said, will not. Now were it really true, that they could not reduce and conquer the Inclination by the force of ordinary Resolution, then the reducing the Principle of it is the next sure and effectual Method. Water may, if the Quantity be sufficient, conquer and put out a Fire; but removing the Combustibles, taking away the Fewel, is a never-failing Method; the first may do it, but the last must do it. No Fire burns upon it self; that which we call Burning, is nothing but penetrating and dividing the Particles of Matter, if the Matter be removed, there is nothing to separate, nothing to operate upon, and the Fire goes out of course.
The like Plea for Mortifications holds good in most of the other Cases I have mentioned in this Work; for should we trace all the ragingExcesses
