SECT. IV.
That we are sadly to bewail, and be humbled for this Original Sinne all our dayes.
VVE have considered the Introductory Note of Attention, and now proceed to the Matter it self, which is acknowledged and bewailed, and that is not actual sinne, but the sinne he was born in, even before ever his understand∣ing and will, could put forth any actions. David (you heard) doth not here hyperbolize, he speaks it not only humiliter, but veraciter; he doth in his own experience, find that there is such a bitter root within him, such a corrupted na∣ture, that if left to it self, would immediately flame out into most accursed and abominable transgressions; and therefore David knowing, that the strength of all his actual sins, was in this original, he composeth himself in a serious and affe∣ctionate manner to acknowledge that.
That we are not only to believe there is such a thing,* 1.1 as original sinne in us, but we are sadly to bewail it, and to be humbled for it all our dayes.
This is not a truth in Divinity, that is to be in a speculative and barren man∣ner disputed about, but we are to descend into our own hearts, to discern the wofull and bitter effects of it upon our own souls: It is not enough for you to be of this saith, That there is original sinne, that it is the sinne of the whole world, and of all mankind; but you are to take notice of, and to be affected with that particular and proper original sinne, which difsuseth it self over thy whole man: Original sinne is not one sinne, as there is one Sunne, and all partake of the light of it; or like one Intellectus agens, as some Philosophers dreamed, but it is in every man that cometh in the world, every one that is born hath his birth-corru∣ption; Therefore David doth not speak of that iniquity, as it is in all mankind, but as it was his case, and as he was born in it: So that it is not enough for you to say, It is true, it cannot be denied, but that all are sinfull by nature, but you must come home to your own heart, you must take notice of the dung-hill and hell that is in your own hearts. Thus the Apostle Paul, as you heard, Ephes. 2. 3. to humble them, and to lay them low, that they might see all the unwor∣thiness and guilt that was upon them, before the grace of God was effectual in them, he informeth them not onely of those grosse actual impieties they had walked in, but that they were by nature the children of wrath. But you may see this duty of bitter and deep humiliation, because of original sinne, notably ex∣pressed in Paul, Rom. 7. most of that Chapter is spent in sad groans and com∣plaints, because of its still working and acting in him. It was the sense of this, made him cry out, Oh miserable man that I am? Dost thou therefore flatter thy self, as if there were no such law of sinne prevailing upon thee, when thou shalt see Paul thus sadly afflicted because of it? Therefore it is, that I added in the Doctrine, We are to bewail and acknowledge it all our lives; For Paul speaks here (whatsoever Papists and Arminians say to the contrary) in the person of a regenerate man, Who did delight in the Law of God in the inward man; and yet these thorns were in his side, Original sinne in the lusts thereof, was too active, whereby he could not do the good he would, and when he did, he did it not so pure∣ly