Gods Love to Man and Mans Duty Towards God, Part 1 · Section 23
Sect. 23. PROP. XXIII. …or, Adam's breach of Covenant was not only to his Perſonal prejudice; but ſo miſchievous to all his poſterity, that deſcend from him by Natural Generation, that it ſubjects them all to a ſtate of ſin and wrath.
HAd he kept his Integrity he ſhould have begotten Children, not in a ſtate of ſin, but in a …te of innocency: The Image of God, that Ori…nal righteouſneſs which was concreated with him, …ould have been conveyed and derived from him …his Children, together with other bleſſed privi…ges appertaining to that ſtate. But when Adam by his ſin, had deprived himſelf of Original rig… teouſneſs, he could not derive that to us, of whi… he had deprived himſelf. Nemo dat quod non habe he could not communicate that to us, which he hi… ſelf had loſt.
I find ſome of great Name that deny the Cov… nant was made with Adam and his poſterity, t… better to deny Original ſin, [Though the Doctri… of Original corruption (as I conceive) will … found to hold true, abſtracted from the conſidertion of that Covenant made with Adam. And learned pen hath noted this, that many bring t… Doctrine of Original ſin into doubt by laying a upon Covenant Relation, and de… ing, Dr. J. T. Anſ. to Biſhop of Roch. p. 106.or over-looking the Natu… proofs.] If there had been ſuch Covenant (ſayes one) it had be… but equity that to all the perſons intereſted, ſhould have been communicated, and cauti… given to all who were to ſuffer, and abiliti… given them to prevent the evil; for elſe it is no… Covenant with them, but a Decree concerni… them. And it is impoſſible that there ſhould be Covenant made between two, when one of t… parties knows nothing of it.
But it is neither impoſſible, nor unequal to … volve and include Children in Covenant with th… Parents, when they underſtand nothing of it. Th… are parts and appendices of the Parents, and at the Parents diſpoſe, before they know how to diſp… of themſelves. And who queſtioneth but in tak… a Leaſe one may by Covenant bind not only hi… ſelf, but his Children after him to certain Ter… which yet the Child knoweth nothing of? And d… …ot that Covenant which Moſes made betwixt the Lord, and the Children of Iſrael, Deut. 29. take …n their little ones, v. 10, 11, 12. Yea, the Children …hat were to be born of them, v. 15. who were in…entionally in Covenant, though not actually; …ea, the very Law, and light of Nature teacheth …en to Covenant for their Children, when they do …ut engage them to their duty, and may probably by …at means, procure them ſome conſiderable benefit …nd advantage.
As to that plea, [It would not be equal, if the poſterity had not caution given what they might ſuffer by the breach of the Covenant, and ability given to prevent the evil] that this is a meer flou…iſh, a ſound of words without any ſtrength of Rea…on, is thus demonſtrated, viz. This would make …s much againſt Gods decree concerning Adam's …oſterity, as againſt the Covenant with him, and his …oſterity.
Now it is granted on all hands (and this learned writer will not deny) that the Poſterity of Adam …ave loſt and ſuffered much by the fall. And may …ot one argue againſt Gods proceedings herein, juſt …s he does againſt the Covenant with Adam and his …oſterity; ſaying, It had been but equal that caution ſhould have been given to all who were to ſuffer, and abilities given to them to prevent the evil.
But that you may underſtand what Man's con…ition is by Nature, through the fall of our firſt …arents.
1. Take notice, that Adam by his fall loſt his …riginal rectitude, and became univerſally de…raved in the whole Man; ſee the blindneſs of his mind, together with crookedneſs of will, and di… order of affections, Gen. 3.8. When they hear… the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden… the cool of the day, Adam and his wife hid the… ſelves from the preſence of the Lord God, amo… the trees of the Garden. And if they had not thoug… of God, till they heard of him, where was Conſ… ence? In a dead ſleep ſure. And was not their unde… ſtanding now darkned, darkned with a witneſ… when they thought to hide themſelves from Go… preſence among the trees? But whether can a cre… ture flee from his preſence? Again, how ſtrange were their wills perverted, and affections diſordere… who now exceedingly dread, and cannot endure … preſence of God; whereas, before they had ſinne… he was accounted the chiefeſt good, they could n… but have delighted in his preſence before, as the higheſt happineſs.
And what was Adam's fall but a turning fr… God to the Creature, preferring the luſt of the ey… the luſt of the fleſh, and the pride of life bef… God and happineſs; preferring a falſe ſeeming g… before the chiefeſt good. V. Theſ. Salmur. de Statu. hom. lapſ. Sect. 19, 20. p. 208.Thus … changed his ultimate end: And have changed his ultimate end, he w… wholly changed as to his Mora… there being no more of moral go… neſs in any means or end, that a Man propounds himſelf, than there is of reſpect and ſubordi… tion to the ultimate and higheſt end. And therefo… when Man turned from God the chiefeſt good, a falſe good, being led away with his ſenſitive app… tite, (through his own incogitancy, and the tem… ter's ſubtilty) thereupon he became animalis ho… wholly carnal; I ſay, thus he became a vain, ſenſual, carnal man. Hence came that woful diſorder into his Soul. All things turned upſide down with him. The ſenſitive appetite, (which was the lower faculty, inferior to the will, and underſtanding, and to be ruled) came to rule in Man, the other powers loving and liking to have it ſo. Thus the neareſt end of the loweſt faculty (as things of ſence) the things of the fleſh, the having and enjoying of thoſe things, became the laſt and higheſt end of the ſuperior faculties. What horrible confuſion was here brought into Man's Nature by ſin? That if you look upon him in a Moral conſideration, he was no longer ſuch a Creature as God made him, but quite another thing; though he had the ſame Natural faculties after his fall as before, yet the moral qualities of thoſe faculties were not the ſame, but directly contrary. God made man upright, with an appetite in perfect ſubjection to right reaſon, with a clear underſtanding of the chiefeſt good, with a will ſweetly cloſing with that good; but when through inadvertency (as I ſaid before) he fell from God to a falſe good, all theſe faculties were immediately corrupted, and depraved, the rectitude of them quite loſt.
If any one ſhould ſay here, but as Adam when he fell, turned from God to the Creature, and to a falſe good; might he not of himſelf turn from that falſe good unto God again?
Anſ. No, not of himſelf, when he hath loſt that rectitude of Soul, which is abſolutely neceſſary to ones chuſing God, and taking him for his laſt end and chiefeſt good; nor is the caſe alike: It is eaſie for one to fall, or caſt himſelf down from an high pinacle, not ſo eaſie for him to riſe again, when b… that fall he hath broke all his bones As it is obſerved, Theſ. Salm. ubi ſupr. Sect. 33. p. 211.Haec rerum qu… corrumpi poſſunt naturalis eſt Cond… tio, ut facile corrumpi, corruptae i… integrum reſtitui vix unquam poſſint: This is th… Natural condition of things which may be corrupted, that they may eaſily be corrupted, but bein… once corrupted, can ſcarce ever be reſtored to thei… perfection again. But of this in another place.
2. Adam by his fall having loſt his Origina… righteouſneſs, and his whole Nature being corrupted, he begat Children like himſelf, deſtitute … Original righteouſneſs, and ſo indiſpoſed to all tru… goodneſs, but prone to all which is evil.
That the corruption of Nature is propagate… unto all, that naturally deſcend from him, is ver… evident. Adam had loſt Gods Image, and wa… corrupted, and ſinfully enclined, when he is ſai… to have begotten a Son in his own Image, Gen. 5.3… obſerve, the Scripture oppoſeth the Image of Ada… to the Image of God, Eph. 4.22.24. to the Imag… of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.47, 48, 49. what is Adam Image, but the fleſh, Joh. 3.6. the Old man, Col. 3.9… All men naturally bear the Image of Old Ada… Does not that prove corruption natural, and propogated to them?
Again, how plain is that of our Saviour, Joh. 3.6… That which is born of the fleſh is fleſh. By this a… gument he there proves the neceſſity of regeneration, of a new birth, without which there is no e… tering into the Kingdom of God. For that which i… born of the fleſh is fleſh, as Job 14.4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an anclean? The anſwer is, no… one. No man can do this. So Rom. 5.19. By one Man's diſobedience many were made (conſtituted) ſinners. [Many] Some would have the Apoſtle ſpeak thus, cautelouſly, becauſe that all ſimply and abſolutely were not made ſinners by Adam. Eve was a ſinner, yet not made ſo by Adam's means; ſhe was firſt in the tranſgreſſion. Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of God, was made Man; yet was not a ſinner. But admitting theſe two ſpecial exceptions, the foreign here, theſe [many] are as much as all, v. 12. The All here meant indeed, were many, and the many here ſpoken of were all. But the word [many] ſeems to be uſed here, becauſe it was to come in again in the other part of the compariſon. [made ſinners] foreign conſtituted ſinful, to underſtand this of their being only uſed as ſinners, is a private interpretation, and not according to the Analogy of Faith.
How ſtrange a paſſage is that one hath, Dr. J. T. Anſ. to Biſhop of Roch. Letter, p. 11.I was troubled with an Objection lately, for it being propounded to me; why it is to be believed that the ſin of Adam could ſpoil the Nature of Man, and yet the Nature of Devils could not be ſpoiled by their ſin, which was worſe, I could not tell what to ſay, and therefore held my peace.
But methinks one need not ſtudy much for an anſwer to it. The Devils were not the root and fountain of other Spirits. God did not ſay to them, as to our firſt Parents [Encreaſe and Multiply.] But Man being to propagate his kind, it ſeemeth not ſo unaccountable, (once ſuppoſing our firſt Father to have ſinned away Gods Image, that his Nature is deſtitute Original righteouſneſ… and tainted with a co… trary principle, Natura enim humana (quae in primis parentibus tot a erat) per peccatum tota corrupta eſt—unde non niſi corruptos, injuſtos, & mortales ſilios generare potuit. Meth. Confeſ. Edit. a De Soto. fol. 4.2.habi… diſpoſition, or inclin… tion) that he ſhould b… get Children in li… manner viciouſly enclined. It is natural for cre… tures to beget their like. Haec eſt Naturae Lex, … ſui quaeque res ſimilem gignat, homo hominem, vit… ſus vitioſum, Leproſus leproſum. (plac. de Imp… pri. pec. p. 160.)
And, as is the Root, ſo the Branches; as t… Spring, ſo the Streams. You would not expe… pure and wholeſome ſtreams, to flow from a corr… fountain.
Obj. If all deſcending from Adam be corrupte… how was Chriſt Jeſus clear from Native corru… tion? was he not conceived, and born of a Daug… ter of Adam?
Anſ. All that deſcend from Adam by Natur… Generation (the Virgin Mary not excepted) deri… Natural corruption from Adam. But Chriſt d…ſcended not from Adam by Natural Generation, b… Generation and conception was miraculous. H… came into the world, not by vertue of that prim… tive benediction [Increaſe and Multiply] but … make good that ſpecial promiſe [The ſeed of t… Woman ſhall break the Serpents head.] He was tha… ſeed of the Woman conceived by the power of th… Holy Ghoſt in the womb of a Virgin; and ſo th… Holy One indeed, Luk. 1.35, This very much co… firms the truth of the point I am upon, ſcil. the pr… pagation of Natural corruption to all that natural… deſcend from Adam, that Jeſus Chriſt to free him from the ſaid pollution, muſt not come into the world by Natural Generation, but by a moſt miraculous conception.
Obj. But you will not deny, but Adam after his Fall was reſtored by Repentance, and renewed by Grace.
Anſ. Grant him to be renewed, ſanctifyed, yet it was but in part, that he had Gods Image reſtored in him. And this, of Gods wonderful ſpecial Grace, and therefore it was not a quality that was naturally to deſcend. When he begat a Son, he did this, as a man, not as one renewed and created again. He begat a Son after his own Image, that is, ſinful like himſelf; not after Gods Image, which in man's lapſed ſtate, is purely ſupernatural.
Obj. But you cannot tell how this Natural corruption is conveyed from the Parent to the Child.
Anſ. Nor do we know how the bones do grow in the womb (Eccl. 11.5.) of her that is with Child. But we muſt not deny that which is plain, becauſe we cannot underſtand that which is difficult. We have ſeen plain Scripture for the derivation of corruption from Adam to us all.
Obj. But may not the Scripture mean, we are made ſinners by imitation of Adam, rather than by the propagation of corruption from him? May we not underſtand it thus, that we are corrupted by his evil Example?
Anſ. No, That were not to interpret but to pervert the Scripture. That which is born of the fleſh is fleſh. Does not this ſpeak plainly of Natural Generation, and nothing of imitation. So Pſal. 51.5. Behold I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me. Certainly, David is here confeſſing his own ſin. Not the ſin of his Parents, but that which he had cauſe to be aſhamed of, and humbled for, as his own Sin, not anothers. So that Text [by the Diſobedience of one many were made ſinful] If it meant by imitation only, then it ſhould have been ſaid, that we were made ſinful by the Serpent, by Satan, or by the Woman, Eve, rather than by Adam; or why is the ſpeech limited to the diſobedience of one, when the world is full of pernicious examples; great multitudes there are, that draw others to ſin by their evil Examples. And multitudes that are drawn to ſin this way, who never read or heard of Adam. And thoſe that have heard of his ſin, have alſo heard of his puniſhment; that ſhould rather deterre them from ſin. And plain experience ſhews, that not his particular example, which is ſo remote; but nearer examples have the moſt malignant influence upon men. And that Children in the moſt religious families, where are the beſt precepts, and examples both, do bewray corruption of Nature, as ſoon as ever they can put forth any Acts of reaſon. Oh what ſtrangers are they in Iſrael, yea, ſtrangers in the world, yea, ſtrangers to their own hearts, that ſee not the firſt riſe of ſin and wickedneſs that is in the world ſince the Fall, to be from an evil inclination within men, and not from an obſervation and imitation of others. And I know not well, what can be replyed to that, if we are made ſinful by the diſobedience of one Adam, only by imitation, then may we not be ſaid (by a parity of reaſon) to be made righteous by the Faith of one Abraham, we walking in the ſteps of his Faith?
3. The next thing I would clear to you is, That this Natural inherent pravity, or Original corruption is ſinful. It makes us really guilty before God, obnoxious to his wrath and curſe for ever. I purpoſely wave ſpeaking of the guilt of Adam's firſt tranſgreſſion, the imputation of it to his poſterity immediately, and antecedently, or irreſpectively to this corruption of Nature, propagated from him, leaving it to the ſober conſideration and diſcuſſion of the Godly-learned.
But though we hold Adam's ſin propagated, Non peccatum perſonae, ſed peccatum Naturae; not his perſonal ſin, not the tranſient action; but the ſin of the Nature of Man, the corrupting of his Nature; for ſo it was an inherent, permanent, Evil quality: this alone ſufficeth to condemn any one in the world. In regard of this inherent pravity and corruption, which is in every one from his very birth, yea, from his very quickning in the womb; we all deſerve death and condemnation, deſerve to be dealt withal and puniſhed, after the ſame manner, as if we had done what our firſt Parents did.
Now this is very plain and evident from Scripture, Eph. 2.3. and were by Nature Children of wrath, even as others. Nothing but ſin could ſubject us to Gods wrath, to which yet we are all obnoxious by Nature, one as well as another. And if obnoxious to Gods wrath by Nature, then ſinful by Nature. So that there is ſin and guilt in our very Nature, before ever we come to the practice and commiſſion of ſin.
Again, what an undeniable proof is that, Rom. 5.12. By one man ſin entered into the world, and death by Sin; and ſo death paſſed upon all men, foreign, which whether you will read it relatively in quo i… whom, or cauſally, eo quod, becauſe or in as muc… as all have ſinned, I ſhall be content. Theſe thing are plain however.
1. That death came into the world by ſin.
2. That all on whom death paſſeth, have ſin.
3. That many on whom death paſſeth, (as infants) have not actual ſin.
4. Therefore it follows that they have ſin derived from Adam with their very Natures. That Original corruption hath the true Nature of ſin; otherwiſe according to the Apoſtles arguing, Infants ſhould not be ſubject to death.
But here we are told by no mean writer, that Man was created Mortal, Ʋn. Neceſſ. p. 371.and i… Adam had not ſinned he ſhould have been immortal by Grace, i. e. by the uſe of the tree of Life.
Yet elſewhere the ſame hand layes down this aſſertion contrary to the former,
Diſſolution of the Soul and Body ſhould have been, Anſ. to the Biſhop of Roch. Letter. p. 86.if Adam had not ſinned] which if ſo, how then ſhould he have been immortal by grace, i. e. by the uſe of the tree of life? what he adds there by way of proof; For the world would have been too little to have entertained thoſe Myriads of Men, which muſt in all reaſon have been born from that bleſſing of [Increaſe and Multiply] hath no ſtrength at all, but lean… on this weak and falſe prop; that without the diſſolution of Soul and Body, Man could not have been tranſlated from Earth to Heaven. Take this away, and what he ſaith comes to nothing.
But though Adam was not immortal, as the Saints are after the reſurrection; yet neither was …he Mortal as we all now are. Theſ. Salm. de Stat. Ada. ante Lapſ. Sect. 32. p. 197.Tam naturalis erat Adamo facultas non moriendi, quam non peccandi. To ſay, that he was created Mortal, is to deny that immortality was any part of Gods Image, wherein Man was created. Again, death was threatned only in caſe of diſobedience, as we ſee here, Gen. 2.17. Does not that imply, he ſhould not have dyed, if he had not ſinned. As the Apoſtle telleth us, death entred by ſin, and paſſeth upon none but Sinners; Infants dye as well as others, and therefore they are ſinners.
And yet further to evince it, take this Argument; Either Infants that dye in infancy, and are ſaved, are ſaved by Chriſt, or not; now ſurely there are none that have the face of Chriſtians, can have a face to ſay, any in the world are ſaved without Chriſt; for there is ſalvation in no other. Therefore I hope we may take this for granted, all Infants that are ſaved, are ſaved by Chriſt. And if ſaved by Chriſt, then Chriſt dyed for them. If Chriſt dyed for them, then they were really guilty; truly, properly ſinners in themſelves; otherwiſe they are none of them ſaved by Chriſt.
Yea, indeed if Infants, or any in the world were innocent and guiltleſs before God; ſuch would have no need of a Saviour, no need of pardoning Grace and Mercy; ſuch muſt go to Heaven another way, not by the ſatisfaction and redemption of Chriſt. He had dyed in vain ſo far, had he dyed to purchaſe Gods favour for thoſe, who no way merited his diſpleaſure. Juſtice it ſelf would not condemn, but clear all that can plead … guilty.
Methinks, though the Remonſtrants would hav… natural corruption meerly penal, not ſinful; y… they (of all others) ſhould grant this Argument, wh… would have the death of Chriſt intended for all and every one alike, to make the remedy provided… Chriſt, the ſecond Adam, adequate unto our mal… dy and miſery, that came by the firſt Adam. No… what need that Chriſt's death ſhould be intend… for Infants, to reconcile them to God, if they we… not obnoxious in themſelves to his wrath?
Obj. But ſayes Corvinus, If the Law does n… require that a Man be born wit… out ſin, Cenſ. Anat. Arm. c. 8. Sect. 7. p. 121.if it requires not Orig… nal Righteouſneſs, a man ſinne… not in that he is born without i… therefore the want of it cannot properly be call… ſin.
Anſ. Though it is true (as Rivet ſayes) veta… tur futura, In Exod. 20. p. 314.non praeterita aut praeſe… tia? quae jam in actu ſunt; yet fac… mala arguuntur à Lege, improbant… & damnantur. And ſo this, prava diſpoſitio, &c rentia Juſtitiae damnantur a Lege. It is contra… to the Law, and condemned by it. The Law pr… perly forbids things to come, but reproves, diſallow… of things preſent, contrary to it. As this Nati… inherent corruption (including an indiſpoſition, a… averſeneſs from what is truly good, and pron… neſs to evil) muſt needs be contrary to the La… That which is the cauſe of all actual ſin, mu… needs be foreign ſinful ſin indeed.
Again, was not Man obliged by the Law of his Creation to be, and continue as holy, good and perfect, as God made him? In this reſpect may we not be born guilty Creatures, Rei debendi, licet …on agendi, we are guilty before God, if our Na…ures (as well as Actions) be not perfectly conformed …o Gods will, and Law.
Obj. But ſayes Corvinus, after the fall, obedience is required by a new Covenant, wherefore Man is conſidered as fallen, not as upright ſtill.
Anſ. I have ſhewed before, the new Law of Grace doth not hinder the old Original Law (which …equires perfect Obedience and exact conformity to …he will of God in all things) from being ſtill in …orce; otherwiſe we do not ſin in not obeying per…ectly, and have no cauſe to be humbled, and to …ue to God for pardon and forgiveneſs upon that …ccount.
Obj. This corruption of Nature in Infants is not …eirs, by an Act of their wills.
Anſ. Though it be not à voluntate, yet it is in …oluntate. Are ſinful habits no ſins, becauſe they …re not ſinful Acts? It comes not by the Child's …ill, it's true, for it comes by Nature, is conveyed …aturally. The Child born ſinful, becauſe deſcended …om ſinful Parents: Yet this corruption is princi…ally and eminently ſeated in the will, and from the …ill it acts, and ſhews it ſelf as ſoon as the will …an act. The ſin of Infants is not in Action, but in …is evil diſpoſition. We muſt ſay this of Children, …en unborn, or newly come into the world, that …ey do not actually will the committing of this or …at ſin, it is from natural impediments, the lett and hinderance is a natural incapacity; otherwiſ… there is that pravity of will even Natural to them which would break forth into all manner of Sin (… God withheld his reſtraining hand) the Natur… Impediments of Action being but removed. A… is not this enough to make them Objects of God wrath, and worthy of Death? How can an infinite… holy God but loath, and abhor ſuch vile Creatures whom he ſeeth (even by Nature) ſo wickedly e… clined, if he look upon them, as in themſelves, an… not in and through his Son Jeſus Chriſt? as Creatures that have evil qualities by kind, are the mor… offenſive to us, becauſe thoſe qualities are Natur… to them. As Wolves for their ravenous diſpoſition Toads and Serpents for their poyſonous quality before ſuch quality or diſpoſition be put forth int… act.
What I have delivered concerning Natural corruption, and the ſinfulneſs of it, it is no other Doctrine, than is laid down in the 39 Articles, Art. 9 as alſo in the Articles of Religion agreed upon a Dublin in Ireland, 1615. Sect. 23. Original … ſtandeth not in the imitation of Adam, (as th… Pelagians dream) but is the fault and corruptio… of the Nature of every perſon, that naturally i… ingendred and propagated from Adam: where by it cometh to paſs, that Man is deprived … Original righteouſneſs, and by Nature is be… unto ſin, and therefore in every perſon born int… the world, it deſerveth Gods wrath and dam… nation.
What could be ſpoken more plain for the prop… gation of corruption to every one naturally de… ſcended from Adam, and that this corruption i… properly Malum culpae non paenae, that it is not a …eer languor, or frailty of Nature, but a pravity …d fault, a moral defect; and ſo that it layes eve…y perſon born into the world, under Guilt, ob…xious to wrath and condemnation. How ſtrange it that any ſhould ſubſcribe, and declare their un…igned Aſſent to ſo plain truths, and yet afterwards …ny them?