Of the quality of mans first offence. CHAP. 12.
BVt if the difference of motion to sinne, that others haue from the first man, do trouble any one, and that other sinnes doe not alter mans nature, as that first transgression did: making him lyable to that death, torture of affect, and cor∣ruption which we all feele now, and he felt not at all nor should haue felt, but that * 1.1 he sinned: If this (I say) moue any one, hee must not thinke therefore, that it was a light 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that hee committed in eating of that fruite which was not (a) hurtfull at all, but onely as it was forbidden. For God would not haue planted any hurt∣full thing in that delicate Paradise. But vppon this precept was grounded obedi∣ence, (b) the mother and guardian of al the other vertues of the soule: to which it is good to be subiect, & pernicious to leaue (leauing with it the Creators wil) and to follow ones own. This command then of for bearing one fruit when there were so many besides it, beeing so easy to obserue; and so short to remember (cheefely when the affect opposed not the wil) which followed vppon the trans∣gre•…•…on) was the more vniustly broken, by how much it was the easier to keepe.
L. VIVES.
NO•…•… (a) hurtfull] Of it selfe. (b) The mother] GOD layes nothing vppon his crea∣tures, men or angels, as if hee needed their helpe in any thing, but onely desireth to haue them in obedience to him. Thence is the rule: Obedience is better then sacri∣fice. Hierome vpon the eleuenth Chaper of Ieremy, Verse, 3. Cursedis the man that heareth notthe wordes of this contract: Not for the priuiledge of the nation (sayth hee) nor the wrong of * 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor the leasure of the Sab•…•…th: But for obedience it is that God is Israels God, and they his people. Likewise in Isai. Chap. 44. Augustine wrote a work called De obedientia & hu∣•…•…. What •…•…e hath said here he repeateth often. Contra aduers. leg. & Proph. l. 1. & de b•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.