The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 11
L Of the fall of man and losse of Gods image, by reason of Adams sinne.
Q. Rehearse the letter L?
A. LEarne, that man hath lost that image of God wherein hee was created, by the sinne of Adam the first man, in eating the forbidden fruit.
For Adam hauing power not to sinne if he would, being seduced by the woman, and the woman by the serpent which is the Deuill, did willingly yeeld to the temptation.
Q. Shew how and in what respect man hath lost the image of God?
Image of God how farre …ost.A. Man hath lost the image of God, not in respect of the substance of soule and body, which doe yet remaine the same, 2 Cor. 11.7which essentially they were in their first creation: nor in regard of the faculties of reason; will and affection, without which we were not men, but brute creatures.
But the image of God which man hath chiefely lost, is that conformi…y to the will of God, consisting in the true knowle…ge of God, in righteousnesse and holinesse.
Q. Proue that this heauenly knowledge, righteousnesse and holinesse is the image which man hath lost?
O…ly in respect of knowledge, righteousnesse and holinesse.A. It is manifest, by that exhortation of the Apostle, Ephes. 4.24. where we are exhorted to renew that image wherein man was created after God in righteousnesse and true holinesse. Which exhortation were needlesse, if man had not lost this image: and if this were not the image of God, which man hath lost.
Q. Proue that this image of God was lost by Adams sinne?
A. It is euident in that the Scripture speaking of Adam,And that by Adams sinne. saith, Rom. 5.12. That by one man sinne entred into the world. And verse 18. By the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation. And verse 19. By one mans disobedience many were made sinners.
Q. Proue that it was by eating the forbidden fruit.
A. It is apparant in the history: In eating the forbidden fruit.partly by the charge, which God gaue vntounto Adam, Gen: 2.16.17. The Lord God commanded the man saying, Thou shalt eat freely of eueryevery tree of the garden. But of the tree of knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt not eate of it. Partly by the threatning, in the words immediatly following, For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death. Partly by the sentence of curse denounced against man after hee had sinned, Gen. 3.17.
Q. Proue that Adam had power not to sinne if hee would?
Hauing power not to sinne.A. It is manifest in that God made man so excellent a creature. Whereupon it is said, Eccles. 7.29. That God made man righteous and vp…ght. Neither could it hauehave …ood with the iustice of God, to require that of man which he was not able to performe, or to punish him, hauing by his creation no power to obey.
Q. Proue that Adam was seduced by the woman?
Was seduced by the woman.A. It is so written, Gen. 3.6. That the woman gaue also vntounto her husband with her, and he did eat. It was Adams excuse, verse 12. The woman which thou gauest to be with me, she gaue me of the tree, and I did eat. And it is alleaged to humble that sex, 1 Tim. 2.14. That Adam was not deceiued, but the woman being deceiued, was in the transgression.
Q. Proue that the woman was deceiued by the Serpent.
A. It is said by the Apostle, She by the Serpent.2 Cor. 11.3. That the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty. And the story Gen. 3.1. doth shew the manner how it was done.
Q. Proue that, that Serpent was the Deuill?
A. That the Serpent was the Deuill, That Serpent was the Deuill.or rather the Deuill in the Serpent, see Reu. 12.9. where it is said, That the great Dragon was cast out, that old Serpent, called the Deuill and Satan, which deceiueth the whole world, And Chap. 20.2. The Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Deuill and Satan.
Q. Proue that Adam did willingly yeeld to the temptation?
Man did willingly yeed.A. The history doth shew it, by expressing Adams owne confession and excuse, before cited. And Eccles. 7.29. where it is said, That God hath made man vpright, it is presently added, but they hauehave sought out many inuentions.