The substance of Christian religion soundly set forth in two bookes, by definitions and partitions, framed according to the rules of a naturall method, by Amandus Polanus professor of diuinitie. The first booke concerneth faith. The second concerneth good workes. The principall pointes whereof are contained in a short table hereunto annexed. Translated out of Latin into English by E.W.

Thus farre concerning the sinnes of deuils: now concerning the sinnes of men.

The sinne of men, is that sinne into which men haue fallen.

And that is of two sortes, either the sin of our first parents, or of their posterity.

* 1.1The sinne of our first parents, is the sinne of Adam and Heuah.

And that is two fold: both the fall, and the corruption following the fall.

The fall of our first parents, is the eating of the forbidden fruite, by the persuasion and subtlety of the deuill, through which eating they did breake the commandement of God, and haue cast themselues and their posterity headlong into eternall death.

Now our first parents fell, both willingly, and by Gods prouidence.

That they fell willingly, it appeareth hereby, because they were endued with a will of their owne, which was free, and could not be compelled.

Thereupon it came to passe, that a shew of good, that is to say, of obtaining a diuine nature being set before them, they did fall, and sinne, the minde approuing that which was set before it, & the will inclining it selfe to embrace the same.

That they fell by Gods prouidence, it ap∣peareth in the Prou. 16.4. Rom. 11.32. Gal. 3.

The corruption following the fall, is a darkening of the Image of God, by which there ceaseth to be in the mind the true, & per¦fect knowledge of God, in the will the free∣dome of choise to goodnesse, and in the hart the true loue & feare of God & a purpose, & desire to obey God, & there succeeded in the minde ignorance, and doubtfulnesse: in the wil, and hart stubburnnesse against God, and a froward disposition.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the fall of our first pa∣rents.