A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is, by pregnant texts of Scripture vindicated from false glosses / by Anthony Burgess.

SECT. VII.

THe work remaining is, to give further reasons (the Scripture being first laid as a foundation) to demonstrate this truth, That we are by nature originally defiled; For though man be unwilling to be found thus a sinner, and the entertaining of this truth seemeth to strike down all the hopes and comforts that a naturall man hath. Believe this, and all men, (as in respect of defect) are so many damned men, so that flesh and blood must needs deny, cavill, distinguish, and turn it self into a thousand shapes ere it will acknowledge it, yet look we into our selves diligently, and compare our selves with the glass of Gods Word, we cannot but say, That all we have heard by the Ministers, all that Sermons and Books tell us, come not up to what we feel in our selves; So that as the A∣postle, when he said, This corruption shall put on incorruption, he did cutem tan∣gere, did lay his hand upon his body, as Tertullian thought, so do thou strike upon thy thigh, and smite upon thy breast, and say, within this body, lieth a soul covered all over with sinne, and damnable guilt. To assure us more herein, these further discoveries may be added.

First, That spirituall death in sinne, which we are all plunged into, whereby we do become altogether senseless and stupid, as to any spirituall concernement. The death threatned upon Adam's trangression was spirituall, as well as corporall, and therefore Ephes. 2. We are said to be dead in sinnes till Christ quicken us by his power; Now this is a full discovery that we have lost Gods Image, and all spiritual life, otherwise why should not spirituall life be as quick, active, and moving towards spirituall objects, as our naturall and corporall life is to corpo∣rall things, Why is it, that when any do threaten corporall death and outward misery we are afraid, and will give all we have for this corporall life? But when the Devil tempts, and the world tempts, so that we are in danger of loosing eternal life, we have no trembling or horror taking hold upon us. Nebuchad∣nezzar made a law, that whosoever would not worship his Image, should be cast into a fiery furnace, and unless the three Worthies, none refused; so great a matter is the fear of a naturall death. But hath not God threatned hell which is ten thousand times more dreadfull then that fiery fornace, to every one that goeth on wickedly? yet none trembleth because of this; Is not this plain then, that thou art a dead man in sinne? Further, concerning our corporall life, how sollicitous are we about the preserving of it? what carking and caring for meat and raiment? what labour for the back and the belly? Is not the greatest im∣ployment in the world for these two things, and all this is that our frail perishing life may yet be continued? But do men naturally manifest any such thoughts and diligence about the meanes of a spirituall life? The preaching of the Word, the Ordinances, these God hath appointed to be spirituall food, by these our hea∣venly life is maintained; these are the oyl, to keep that lamp burning: But do not all men by nature loath these? are they not a burden to them? do they ever pant and thirst or hunger after these things, as men do for meat or drink? now, why is all this, but because we have no spirituall life in us? So that if you do con∣sider the insensibleness and stupidity of every naturall man, as to things of an heavenly aspect, you need no more to perswade you, that Gods Image is lost, and we are dead in sinne. When the body needeth food needeth raiment, all is supplyed, but so thy soul needeth Christ, needeth grace, and there is not the least thought to have a supply: yea we are not only dead in sinne, but have been a long while thus dead, and if she said of Lazarus, Joh. 11. 39. Lord by this time he stinketh, for he hath been dead four dayes. How much more may we say this in a spirituall sense of thee, who (it may be) hast been dead fourty or fifty years.

Secondly, This may be further inlarged by a consectary from the former;

will not this abundantly declare we are all over sinfull, Because heavenly things are not such objects of delight and pleasure to us, as carnall and worldly things are. This is a palpable demonstration of our wretched pollution, That we cannot feel any sweetness, any pleasure, or joy in those things which immediately concern God: Adam in his state of integrity, was like Jacob's ladder, the foot whereof was on the earth, but the top reached to heaven: Thus though Adam's inferior part the body, was exercised in these earthly things, yet his soul the more sub∣lime part, that was fixed in heaven; But now all our su••eableness and communion with heavenly objects is wholly perished; we have hearts inlarged with joy, we are ravished with delights about wordly things, and when brought to any thing that is heavenly, there we are weary, and neither flesh or spirit is willing to such things; yet nature might reach us, that man of all creatures only hath hands, and those not to embrace the earth, but he hath feet to walk and trample upon it. We read of Paul and David, with other godly ones, when recovered in part from the power of this originall corruption, what longings and breakings of soul they had after God, and his Ordinances. These things were accounted for sweetness above the hony; and for presciousness above gold; now why should not every man be able to say so as well as they? but because our tasts are wholly distempered, and we are carnall not spirituall. Certainly spirituall objects have in themselves infinite more matter of joy and delight, then any earthly thing can have; who can think there is more sweetness in a drop, then in the ocean? more light in the starre, then in the sun? The creature is less then these in com∣parison of God: May not than even blind men see, that we are all over-plunged into sinne? else, why should not God and heavenly objects, which do so farre surpass in matter of true delight be more sweet and welcome to us, then all the creatures of the world though put together? Psal. 4▪ 6. Many say, who will shew us any good? The naturall man finds no delight but in these earthly things oppo∣sitely to God. There is a She••ll in his soul, that is alwaies craving and asking, never satisfied; now, why can they not with David as well put forth the follow∣ing petition, Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us? But because the carnall man finds no more pleasure in spirituall things, then the swine doth in pearles or pleasant flowres: A man that is spirituall having drunk of this water, desireth no other; As the Philosophers say, The matter of the heavens is so fully actuated by the heavenly formes, that it desireth no other, whereas the matter of these sub••unary things is never satisfied but though under one forme, yet it still desireth another. Thus the soul possessed of God and Christ, hath so much delight and pleasure that it hath enough, it desireth no change, but the naturall man is carried out from one thing to another, from one object to another, first delighting in this, and then in that, it being impossible that Zacheus his shoe should sit Goliah's foot: Thus you see that though a man be restless in his de∣lights, yet he can take pleasure in earthly things, whereas he finds no sweetness, no delight in heavenly things, that are infinitely more precious; So this may demonstrate the loss of Gods Image, and our service to originall sinne in the lusts thereof.

Thirdly, That we are thus originally corrupted, appeareth, in that utter im∣potency and inability to do any spirituall good: we are not able so much as to think a thought, or send forth an hearty groan, as to our eternall welfare; whereas at first God made Adam right, and thereby endowed him with power to do any thing that was holy, called therefore the Image of God; so happy and blessed was his condition, that he could with delight and joy fullfill the Law of God, feeling no difficulty, nor impediment, but now being dead in sinne, we are no more able then dead men to move, or walk in holy things. The Scripture is wonderfully clear in this, though Papists, Arminians and others have endea∣voured to raise a mist, and obscure the sun beames, Joh. 15. Without me ye can

do nothing. Rom. 8. The flesh is eumity against God, 1 Cor. 2. The naturall man perceiveth not the things of God, neither can he, where both the act of doing good, and the power also is denied to every man by nature: If therefore every man by nature be dead in sinne like a stone, as in respect of any holy impression from God, if he have blind eies, deaf eares, a foolish heart, as to any heaven∣ly thing, doth not this plainly tell us, that we are all over polluted? It's good for our humiliation to consider how the Scripture describeth a naturall man, as wanting all his senses, he hath no eies to see, no eares to hear, no heart to un∣derstand, but is wholly dead, and all this is to shew what a wonderfull impotency is in man to help himself spiritually; Now this declareth the necessity of pre∣serving this doctrine of originall corruption clean and sound; for if we be ortho∣dox here, then also we shall hold the truth of God against foe will and the power of nature in divine things; for these two particulars are like Castor and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they alwaies appear together; and what is the design or Secinians, Papists, and Arminians, either in whole or in part, to deny or extenuate originall sinne? but thereby to make a way to advance their magnificent Diana. their free will to holy things, for they evidently see, if originall sinne be such an universall, deep and inward pollution of the whole soul, even the will as well as other parts, then their doctrine of the power of nature is pulled up by the very root; There∣fore the more fully assure your souls of this truth, by how much the whole body of Divinity depends upon this foundation. Indeed the Scripture is so clear in deba∣sing man as to supernaturalls, and giving all to the grace of God, that we may wonder how this pride should settle it self in mans heart, and that he doth not tremble to speak or write any thing, whereby the grace of God may be diminish∣ed, and man exalted; he that cannot make a white hair black, he that cannot adde one cubit to his stature, will yet think to make a polluted soul holy, and adde many cubits of grace to his spirituall stature.

Fourthly, Our original corruption will yet further appear, If you take notice of that universall ignorance and dullnesse that is upon a mans un∣derstanding, knowing no saving thing about God or Christ, if it be not re∣vealed: Insomuch that the necessity of Scripture-light, of revealed-light to conduct us to heaven, doth without contradiction, prove that by nature; we are (as Paul said) Ephes. 4, darkeness, even darkness it self; Look over the generation of mankind, that are the wisest and most learned, where the light of Gods word hath not shore upon them, Rom. 1. 1. The Apostle there informeth us, that the doctrine of the Gospel was foolishness to them, that professing them∣selves to be wise they became foolish in their imaginations, what Aristotle or Pleto could ever by naturall reason understand any thing of Christ? If then we lay this for a sure foundation, (though some would absurdly question it) That without the knowledge of Christ and faith in him, none can be saved; And that none by nature can come to this knowledge, then it followeth undeniably, that damnable ignorance doth cover the face of our souls, as darkness did the deep at first, That there is a very Chaos in our souls: Oh then that we had knowledge to know our ignorance! Oh that the dark dungeon we are shut up in might not be so pleasing to us! In that the Gospel is called a mystery; In that flesh and blood doth not reveal the things of Christ to us, this sheweth our wretched estate in sin; Adam had knowledge about the meanes rending to everlasting happiness, other∣wise God would have made him imperfect; but now we are ignorant of Christ the way: All that live in the Church, had it not been for revealed light, would have groped in darkness, as we see all Heathens and Pagans do: If therefore you would see, what our natures are of themselves, consider the Sanages, the Indians, the Pagans of the world, who as to any right knowledge of God have little more then bruit beasts; we cannot so well see what mans nature is of it self, who live in the Church, because there is the light of the Gospel, and many times

godly education, and Christian institution of us while young doth restrain sinne, otherwise if there were not this planting and watering of us, we should not know any more about Christ, then the most rude Barbarian that is; Take off then those ornaments, those supernaturall additaments that God hath put upon us, who live under the Gospel, and then our nakedness and deformity will plainly appear.

Fifthly, The wofull captivity and bondage we are in to Satan by nature, doth also manifest our originall defilement; For were we not cast off by God, did not sinne make us like hell, why could so many legious of Devils dwell in us? Eph 2, The prince of darkness, the god of this world, is said, to rule in the hearts of the disobedient, and such we are all by nature; yea, we are, till regenerated in the snares of the Devil, and taken captive at his will. Therefore when Christ sent his Disciples to preach, he said, He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven: Thus the Devil hath his throne in all mens hearts, till Christ who is stronger cast him out. It is trne, by wicked and ungodly customes in sinne, The Devil taketh further possession, as we see in Ananias, and in Judas, The Devil is said to enter into him after the eating of the sop, not but that he was before in him, only he had more power and strength over him; Thus he doth possess the souls of all that are born till regenerated, and by frequent actings of sinne, he setleth his king∣dome more firmely.

Lastly, This may fully discover our originall pollution, In that even in respect of naturall things, we are much weakened and debilitated; our understandings are not able to find out even naturall truths; Insomuch that there was a famous sect of the Academicks, who held, That nihil scitur, we know nothing at all. Even Aristotle, who is prophanely made to be by some, the same in naturalls, which Christ was in supernaturall; yea Scaliger calls him, Vltimus Musarum conatus, as if nature her self could not send forth a greater Artist, yet his known saying (That our understandings in respect of the celestiall bodies especially, are but noctuae ad solem, owles to the Sunne,) makes it appear, that we are ignorant of more things, then we know: yea, and which is greatly to be bewailed, The more learning and parts men have had, they have been more mischiefed by them; in∣somuch that meer Ideots, and naturall fooles, have been less wicked then they: so that humane abilities, when polished by arts, have been like wine to a feavou∣rish man, like a sword in a mad mans hand: neither did God ever choose many of the wise men of the world, Austin being filled with humane eloquence, this was a great prejudice to him in imbracing Christianity; he contemned the simplicity of the Scripture, dedignabar esse parvulus, as he confessed: And Scotus, who for his acute understanding, was called, Doctor subtilis, yet the great Historian Jovius, giveth this censure of him, That he was ad ludibrium Theologiae natus, born to make Religion a scorn and a reproach, because he could dispute every point, probably on all sides, And memorable is that of profound Bradwardine, who before he was cordially affected with the grace of God, confesseth, That when he heard Paul's Epistles read, he did dispise them, because Paul had not metaphisicum ingenium, a metaphysicall head. Thus you see that even those poor abilities that with much labour are attained, make us the worse for them.