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CHAP. XXIII.
The various Opinions, Objections, and Doubts, about the manner how the Soul comes to be polluted.
SECT. I.
THe next work is to consider of the manner how we come to bear this Image. As for the body, to have a mortal and a corruptible one from Adam is easily to be conceived, because the body is causally and seminally in the first man, so propagated from man to man but this hath deservedly been acknowledged the hardest knot to unty in all this doctrinal truth about original sinne, how the soul can come to be pol∣luted if created from God. In this Argument, The Pelagians did much try∣umph, and Austin was so puzled with it, that he many times confesseth his ignorance at least his doubt in this point, yea (he saith) That he could neither legendo, erando, or ratiocinando, find out how the propagation of original sinne, and the creation of the soul could be defended together, But of this more in its time.
SECT. II.
The great Objections that are against asserting the Souls Creation.
IT is certain that here are dangerous rocks on both sides, for if we say, the soul is created, then seeing God cannot but make every thing holy, he cannot make a sinfull soul, how then can it be infected with sinne? Again, if the soul be created, then it was not virtually in Adam, then it could not be said to sinne in him, because it was never in him, for why did not Christ sinne in him, but because he was not seminally in him, and if the soul was never radically in Adam, how can it be pol∣luted, is it just with God to punish that with Adams sinne which never sinned in Adam? If it be said, that the soul when united to the body, doth from that receive infection, as if pure liquour were powred into a stinking vessel, This will not solve but increase the doubt, for a vessel indeed may pollute liquour. because they are both bodies and so act by a corporall contact, but the soul is a spirit, and its a rule (say they) received by all, that a body cannot act upon a spirit, Besides, sinne is proper∣ly in the soul, and must from that be conveyed to the body: The body, whie with∣out a soul, is not capable of sinne no more then a bruit beast; It hath no reason, it is under no law, how then can that communicate sinne to the soul, when it hath none at all it self? Thus you see what strong cords here are, even that a Sampson can hardly break.