1. In the nature of it.
It was 1. a transgression of a positive Law, wherein God gave to Adam a clear discovery of his will, it heightens sinne when it is against great light, Heb. 6. Psa. 51. 1 King. 11. 9.
2. A command wherein the minde of God was much, mens legis est lex, we must measure sin by the intention of the Law-giver.
3. Of so easie a Law, the Fathers aggravate it from this, praeceptum tam breve ad re∣tinendum, tam leve ad observandum, God gave Adam liberty to eat of all the trees in the garden save one, there was no cause why Adam should break it.
4. A Commandement much for his advantage, life here and eternall was promised, as eternall death was threatned.
5. A Symbolicall Precept, God gave him this whereby he should testifie his obe∣dience unto all the rest of the Commandements.
2. In the severall aggravations of it.
1. It was a sin against the clearest light, there was no darknesse at all in Adams un∣derstanding, he knew the law, the danger of the sin, that he stood for himself and all his posterity; God had adorned him with sufficient grace and holinesse.
2. It was a sinne against the greatest goodnesse, being in Paradise where God set him.
3. Against the greatest trust, the Covenant was made with Adam and all his po∣sterity, he forfeits this trust, Rom. 3. 2. Hos. 6. 7. But they like Adam have transgressed the Covenant, so Grotius.
4. Against a threatning, In dying thou shalt die, Certitudinem denotat & durati∣onem.
5. It was voluntary, the more there is of the will in sinne, the worse it is, Satan could not force them to sin, but only allure and perswade them.
First, Adam admitted and received the temptation of Satan, whence followed blindenesse of understanding, forgetfulnesse of Gods benefits, doubting of his truth, affectation of excellency, giving credit to Satan, corrupt beholding of the fruit, and an inclination of the will and affect••ons to eat thereof.
Theee were these sins in this offence, Infidelity, Idolatry, Contempt of God, Dis∣content, Ingratitude, Curiosity, Blasphemy, Murdet, and Apostasie.
There were many sins in that one sin.
- 1. Desperate unbelief, Eve beleeved the devil before God.
- 2. Pride, they desired to be like God, not only in knowledge, but in state and con∣dition, to be Independent.
- 3. Unthankfullnesse, though God had given them such glorious excellencies.
- 4. Vain curiosity to know more then they did know.
- 5. Disobedience in respect of that particular command.
- 6. Spirituall murder, this sin would have damned all mankinde, though there had been no actuall sin: Primordialis lex est data in Paradiso quasi matrix omnium prae∣c••ptorum, That first Law (saith Tertullian) given in Paradise, was the summe and comprehension of the whole divine law that was published afterwards. Therefore in the breach thereof all manner of offences are contained.
That first sin of his (excepting only the sin against the holy Ghost) was in sundry