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

SECT. III.

Why Original Corruption is called, The Inherent or In-dwelling Sinne.

THis premised, Let us consider, why original corruption is called the Inherent and In-dwelling Sinne, and that even in a godly man.

And first, The Apostle cals it, the sinne, (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) Because of the propriety, and proper right it hath to us. As a man is said to dwell in his house, be∣cause he hath a right to it, and it is his own: This original sinne is in every man, as in its proper place, as the stone doth rest in its center, and will not move fur∣ther; So that as hell is said to be the proper place of Judas. He went (saith the Text) to his own place; Thus is the heart and soul of a man, the proper and fit subject for all the natural impiety that cleaveth to us; and therefore, though the Devil be also said, To rule in the hearts of wicked men, he dwels also in them, as well as sinne, for which he is compared to an armed man, keeping the house; yet this is more extrinsecal, and from without; The Devil could not find a room ready swept and garnished for him, but because of this native pollution: Hence the Apostle doth not in this Chapter complain of the Devil, but sin dwel∣ling in him; He doth not say, I would do good, but the Devil hinders me (though that be sometimes true) but sin dwelling in him.

Secondly, This expression of sinne dwelling in a man; denoteth, The quiet and peaceable possession it hath in man by nature, it dwels there, as in its own house, nothing to disturb or molest it: Hence it is, That all things are so quiet in a natural man, there is nothing troubles him; he is not disquieted in his consci∣ence; he feeleth no such burden or weight within him, as Paul here complain∣eth of; so that you would think many civil and natural men in a more holy con∣dition than Paul; They will thank God, They have a good heart, and all is quiet within them; but this is not because original sinne doth not dwell, and live, and work in them, but because they are sensless and stupid, sinne is in its proper place, and so there is no trouble and restlesness in their conscience; Therefore its thy want of experimental discoveries that makes thee question original sinne, other∣wise thy own heart would be in stead of all books to thee in this particular. Indeed in godly men, though sinne dwelleth in them, yet it hath not peaceable possessi∣on, it is as a tyrant in them; Therefore the regenerate part maketh many op∣positions, and great resistances; There is praying, watching and fasting against it; They are as sollicitous to have it quite expelled, as some were to have Christ cast out the Devils from their possessed friends; otherwise in the natural man original sin prevaileth all over, and there is no noise, no opposition, yea great delight, and content there is in subjection thereunto, so that they resist Grace, and the Spirit of God by the Word, which would subdue sinne in them.

So that there is a great difference between the In••dwelling of original sinne in a natural man, and a regenerate; In the former it dwelleth indeed, but as the Je∣busites in Canaan, upon hard terms, as the Gibeonites were in subjection to the Israelites. It is true, Arminius (In Cap. 7. ad Rom. pag. 696.) from this ex∣pression of sinne dwelling in Paul, doth think a firm argument may be drawn, to prove that he discourseth of an unregenerate person, Because (saith he) the word to dwell, doth in its proper signification, and in the use of the Scripture signifie a full and powerfull dominion, and therefore rejecteth that distinction of Peccatum dominans, or regnans, which is said to be in wicked men, and inhabitans, which is in the godly; he would have it called inexistens, not inhabitans: But we have shewed, That sinne is said to dwell in a man, not because of its dominion in a

godly man, but because of its fixed inseparability, and from this word a servant, who hath no rule in an house, is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 1. Pet. 2. 18.

Thirdly, The word doth denote permanency, and a fixed abode in us; it is not for a night, or year, but our whole life dwelling in us: So that sinne is not in a mans heart, as a pilgrim, as a stranger that is presently to remove, but it hath taken up a fixed abode in us, here it dwels, and here it will dwell, you see our holy A∣postle sadly complaining of this inseparability of it from him, as long as he l••∣veth; Actual sinnes they are committed, and so passe away, yea when pardoned, it is as if they had never been; but original sinne is like Samson's hair, though cut it will grow again, and be as strong as ever, till it be plucked up by the roots.

Fourthly, In this expression is denoted the latency also, and security of it, it dwels in us, and it's called, The Law in our members. The chief actings and stirrings of it are in the inward man; Therefore it is that the natural man, the Pharisaical and hypocritical man know nothing of it; Paul while a Pharisee, and so zealous against grosse sinne, abounding in external obedience, yet knew not lust to be a sinne, neither was he so sensible of such a load and burden with∣in him.

Vse 1. Of Instruction, not to think imputed original sinne, or Adam's actual transgression made ours, to be all the original sin we have: No, you may see there is an in-dwelling sinne, an inherent corruption, from whence floweth all that actual filth which is in our lives. And why is it that we hear no more groaning and labouring under it? Is it not because the spiritual life of grace is not within them? Oh why are all things so still and peaceable within thee! Is it not because sin doth all in thee, and flesh will not fight against flesh?

Vse 2. Why is it that even the most holy are to walk humbly, to go out of themselves, to lay fast hold on Christ and his righteousness, is it not because they have such a treacherous enemy within, that hindereth them in every holy duty? Why also is there such a necessity of watching, praying, of holy fear and trem∣bling? Is not all this because of that secret deceitfull adversary within our own brests?