The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 1 · Subpart 1 · Section 1
That ſinne is not onelyonly in the world, but in vsus alſo,We know that ſinne is in vsus. 1 Out of the Law of God. wee know, 1. Out of the Law of God, that is, by comparing our ſelues and the Law together, in conſidering what the Law requireth, and what we hauehave performed. The Law requireth whole and perfect obedience, both inward & outward. But this we find not in our ſelues. Obiect. That which teacheth vsus to ſeeke for righteouſnes elſewhere then in our ſelues, & doth ſhew vsus to be guilty of ſin, by that we hauehave knowledge of our ſin: But the Goſpel willeth vntounto to deſpair of ourſelues, Ob. We know it by the Goſpel alſo. Anſ. Not principally.& to ſeeke for righteouſneſſe elſewhere. Therefore by the Goſpel we hauehave knowledge of our ſinne. Anſwere. I grant that we hauehave after ſome ſort knowledge of our ſinne by the Goſpel, but not principally. For this is the principal vſe of the Law. But the Goſpel preſuppoſeth that which the Law hath proued, that is, that we are ſinners, before it ſendeth vsus to Chriſt. So alſo ſciences, which are in order directlie one vnderunder another, take their principles o… chiefe groundes from the ſciences next aboue them, and proceed according to them, not prouing them, but taking them as graunted. Againe, the Goſpel doth onelie in generall accuſe vsus of ſinne: but doth not in ſpeciall declare what and which be our ſinnes. But this is the principall and proper function of the Lawe: therefore doe wee not put the Law as excluding the Goſpel,2 By the Law of nature. 3 By teſtimonies of Scripture. 4 By puniſhments enſuing. 5 By ſermons which treat of repentance. as if by the Law alone we had knowledge of our ſin: but chiefly and properly. 2. We knowe that wee hauehave ſinne in vsus, by the Lawe of nature, or by that iudgement of conſcience, which is in al men. 3. By the teſtimonies of the holy Scripture, as Pſalme 14 and 53. Eſaie 59.4. By the puniſhments and miſeries which follow ſinne. 5. By the ſermons which treat of repentance.
Now this queſtion is ſette downe, 1. againſt the Libertines. 2. for the exerciſe of repentance. And here the queſtion is not, whether ſinne be in ſome thing, or in ſome men, but whether it bee in all men. And becauſe that without the knowledge of thoſe things neither dew honour can bee giuen to God, nor ſaluation befall to vsus: God wil hauehave the nature and cauſes of ſinne and the puniſhmentes thereof to be knowen and ſearched out of vsus.
But euen as of the beginning of mankinde, ſo alſo of his corruption and reſtoring, none know the certaintie beſides the Church, which is inſtructed by the voice of God concerning theſe ſo weightie matters. And therefore the Philoſophers doe erre about the verie definition and declaring the nature of ſinne, while they iudge either outward actions onelyonly, or purpoſes and deſires which agree not with honeſt diſcipline to bee ſinnes: but not corrupt inclinations and affections, ignorance, errors, and doubtings of God and his will: and in a woord, whereas they doe not vnderſtand wholly the law of God, it cannot be but they muſt make account of manie moſt hainous ſinnes as of no ſinnes. They erre alſo about the cauſe of ſinne, for becauſe whereas they are ignorant of the falling away of the diuels from God, & of the ſeducement and corruption of mens natures in our firſt parentes, they imagin that ſinne was not borne together with vsus, but that all as they grow in yeares, ſo by their owne will they doe fall into it. Laſt of all, they erre about the effect of ſinne, becauſe both they are ignorant of the euerlaſting puniſhments, neither are they able ſufficientlie to conceaue of the horrible wrath of God againſt ſinnes, no not though they were taught it out of the word of God. The Apoſtle, Rom. 7. I had not knowen luſt, except the Law had ſaid, Thou ſhalt not luſt. Iohn. 16. The holie Ghoſt ſhall reprooue the world of ſinne, becauſe they beleeue not in mee. Pſal. 90. Who knoweth the power of thy wrath? For according to thy feare is thine anger.