Of the pride of the transgression, which was worse then the transgression it selfe. CHAP. 14.
BVt pride that makes man seeke to coullor his guilt, is farre more damnable then the guilt it selfe is, as it was in the first of mankind. She could say, the ser∣p•…•… beguilde me, and I did eate. He could say: The woman thou gauest me, she g•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the tree, and I did eat: Here is no sound of asking mercy, no breath of de∣•…•…ng helpe: for though they doe not deny their guilt, as Caine did, yet their p•…•…e seekes to lay their owne euill vpon another, the mans vpon the woman, and hers vppon the Serpent. But this indeed doth rather accuse them of worse then acquit them of this, so plaine and palpable a transgression of Gods com∣maund. For the womans perswading of the man, and the serpents seducing of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to this, doth no way acquit them of the guilt: as if there (a) were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing to be beleeued, or obeyed before God, or rather then the highest.
L. VIVES.
AS if there (a) were] There is nothing to be beleeued rather then God, or to be este•…•…