albeit the manner of producing it were somewhat more then supernatural. But
this is a dispute which for the present shall be waved, because the Original
difference betwixt us and them may be more punctually stated, and the
Questions dependent on it, may be more clearly resolved from these Postulata
or presumed Maxims: First,
[That God did make the First Man after his own
image.]
Secondly,
[That the First man being so made, was righteous and just.]
Neither of these are denied by any. The state of the Original Controversie
unto such as are disposed to have it plainly propounded in constant or un∣fleeting
Terms, is thus;
[Seeing man was made after the image of God, and
being so made, was just and righteous; Whether there were two works of God
or two distinct effects of his work of creating the First Man in righteousness and
in his own image: And whether the one of them was terminated to his own
image imprinted in man, and the other to his original justice.]
If these two
expressions made by
Moses of
Gods image and
mans righteousness, expresse or
include no more then one and the same work of God, or effect of his work in
man: The losse of Original justice or
defacing of Gods image enstamped
upon him, was more then a meer privation, and necessarily presupposeth a
positive Cause in our First Parents, and a positive Effect wrought by that
cause whereunto the privation of Original justice was Concomitant or rather
Consequent. Whatsoever Controversie may be moved concerning the
Cause or manner how this Effect was wrought:
the effect it self was a deadly
wound in our Nature; a multitude of wounds, all by Nature or any endea∣vour
of Nature or performances of such
Free will as was left to mankind after
these wounds were once made, altogether incurable, without the help or
assistance of
better Grace or endowments then were bestowed upon the
First
Man. The cure of these wounds wholly depends upon that grace whose
Being and bestowing the second
Adam did merit from the Father of Lights,
or from the Divine nature or Deity.
2. To win the Assent of every Rational Christian man unto the former
part of this determination; [That Original justice did consist in that image of
God wherein the First man was created, and did not imply any other work
of God whether preccdent or consequent, besides the speciall work of his creation:]
no other Argument is either necessary or so available, as the taking of the
words of Moses, where he describes the manner how the First man was creat∣ed,
into serious consideration. For Original Justice had more Essential de∣pendence
upon the image of God in Man, then Rotunditie hath with a Sphere; or
Globositie with a Globe. Now in the making of a Sphere or body perfectly
round, there be not two works, nor two distinct effects of the Artificers skill;
one in making a Round-Body, another in making Rotunditie. And it is a grosser
Soloecism in Divinity to say or think, that the Image of God in man was One
work of God, and Original Justice Another, then it would be to maintain
that the Rotundity of a Sphere, and the Sphere, are two works of the same
hand, severally intended by the Artificer which makes the Sphere.
3. To evince the later part of the former Assertion; [That Original sin
is more then a meer Privation; more then a meer want of Original Justice; a
multiplicity of wounds or diseases in our nature:] any man living which hath
so much memory or reason as to reflect upon his own disposition or unto∣wardlinesse
in his childhood; or skill to contemplate the Estate or condition
of poor Infants, will easily subscribe unto that great Roman Naturalists judge∣ment
or observations, in his Preface to the seventh book of his natural History,
to be insisted upon hereafter when we come to treat of the Symptomes or pro∣perties
of sin Original. The next Enquirie according to the Method proposed
is, How sin did enter into the world.