NEvertheless Death reigned from A∣dam to Moses] But for all that the Law of Moses was not yet given or pro∣mulgated to a peculiar people; Death notwithstanding reigned throughout the whole world: For all that time (com∣prehensively and inclusively) from A∣dam his Fall, his deprivation of the I∣mage, and depravation of Nature; Till Moses his publication of the Law written in Tables of stone; and so du∣ring that whole Oeconomie or dispensati∣on, even until Christ and the Gospel of his Grace; by whom alone all that be∣leeve are justified from all things (both Sin and Death) from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses. And therefore till then (terminally and exclusively) Death reigned, and Sin likewise; because the dominion and ty∣ranny of these two always goe together; Page  49 Now after the duration, the main thing remarkable is the domination or Deaths reigning, which cannot exactly be, but as she is understood in her whole law and power, and in their full latitude or extent; sc. in the forcible denunciation, and infliction of Death temporal, spiritu∣al, and eternael; For where she is so restrained as to goe no farther than the corporal only, so far is she then from any thing like to reigning, that she is now, as it were, swallowed up in Vi∣ctory; but take her in her utmost Ty∣rany, and she reigned from Adam to Moses, that is, for Original, as well as for actual sin: for consider her subjects, and her power and authority was,

Even over them that had not sinned af∣ter the similitude of Adams transgression, That is over Infants, whose reason and discretion, will, and affections, had not yet made them ripe enough for action and imitation; and therefore they had not sinned actually, or in their own persons, but Originally, or in their first Parents loyus. Adams similitude, likeness, or Image, in which he begat his Poste∣rity (Gen. 5. 3.) was that of Original sin, because it was contradistinct to that Page  50 image, likeness, or similitude in which God had made him, (Gen. 1, 26, 27.) which was that of Original Righteousness. And to Sin after the similitude of Adams transgression, is, to imitate him, follow him, make him our example, and our selves altogether like him; and there∣fore not to have sinned after that simili∣tude, is, not to have done so. Now then to construe it (with this Author) of sin∣ning not so grievously, or of sinning lesse than he did, is to make it come little near to, nay, make it fall very much short of sinning after the similitude of his Transgression, or according to the proportion of his prevarication; To sin less, is, not to sin according to the aequal∣lity: But a man may sin less by much, and yet sin after the similitude neverthe∣less: He that ere this started this very notion (non peccaverunt ad illius simili∣tudinem; hoc est non tam capitaliter — non perinde graviter peccaverunt arque ille) applies it rather (as others besides him do) to the Gentiles than to the Patriarks, (and indeed in such a construction, the Gentiles should sin lesse than the Patri∣arks, as not having the Law, or the like means they had) But if the same Man Page  51 had been taken up, or followed in his other suggestion (regnavit mors in simi∣tudine) the reigning of Death had so been made as vain a semblance, and as light a shadow, as some would make that of Original Sin. But they who suggest that this sinning after the simili∣tude, is neither to be understood of sin∣ning after an internal principle; nor yet after an external example; but only up∣on and after the direct expression, and express direction of a precept; These (ere they are a ware) do take from the Actual and add to the Original; while they thus exempt all before the written law, as likewise all Heathens, to this day, from sinning after Adams similitude, or rather doe thus deny to most men Sin both Original and Actual; but though we may make Adam a Sin similitude to our selves in matters past; yet it hath pleased God to propose him, as a com∣fortable type for the future.

Who is the figure of him that was to come] Behold! here's a typical promise, sufficient to satisfie all querulous com∣plaining, and to prevent all quarrellous charging God foolishly, in calling any of his Articles to question in the case, Page  52 Since Adam, who received Gods simili∣tude, not for himself alone, but for all his posterity after him, had now forfei∣ted the same both for himself and them all, and had now begotten them in his own similitude of prevarication and de∣fection; and in that very similitude they were now found, and so lest; left (and that justly) to the Tyranny of Sin and Death, yea even those, who had not as yet (according to all actual circumstan∣ces) sinned after the similitude of A∣dams transgression; Neverthelesse they were yet in the estate of Natural corrup∣tion, and by that Nature, worthily born Children of wrath; but what if they had already sinned after that simi∣litude, and had now made him their Example to sin, and to die by? yet hath God (of his good pleasure) made him the Type or figure of Christ, intimating that they who are elected by him, and beleeve in him, shall not die by the one, in whom they sinned; but shall live by the other, in whom they beleeved; For as the First man Adam, was the head and principle of Nature to us, and after that of Sin, so is this second Man Adam (Christ the Lord) the principle and Page  53 head of Grace to us; and after that of Glory. Behold then (each one) the goodness and severity of God; On them which fell severity; But towards thee goodness if thou continue in his good∣ness: And thus indeed are the Divine Attributes to be magnified by us on either part.