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OF THE FIRST SINNE.
Next vnto the place of the image of god, is adioyned the place of the first sinne. For seeing man was created to the i∣made of God, that is, perfectly wise, perfectly righteous, & perfectly blessed, the questiō hath been not without cause in all times, whence this present estate of man commeth, wherein he, except he be born again by the holy ghost, cannot do other than sin, and be obnoxious to calamities of all sortes, and at length to death it selfe. To this question answere cannot be made but out of the doctrine of the Church onely: which is, that all this confusion and miserie floweth from the first sinne of our first Parents. We must see therefore what that sinne is: concerning which, fower thinges especially come to bee considered.
- 1 What it was.
- 2 What the causes thereof.
- 3 What the effectes.
- 4 Why god permitted it.
1 What that first sinne of Adam and Eue was.
* 1.1IT was diuers and manifolde: and many and most grie∣uous sinnes are seene in that first sinne. 1. Pride against god, ambition, and an admiration of himselfe. For man not con∣tent with that state wherein god had placed him, desired to bee e∣equal with God. This doth God charge him with, when he saith; Behold the man is become as one of vs to know good and e∣uill.* 1.2 2. Incredulitie, and vnbeliefe, and contempt of Gods iustice, and mercie: because he thought not that God could & would inflict on man transgressing his commandement, that pu∣nishment, which he had threatned. Wherefore he tempted God, and charged him with a lie: For God had saide, Thou shalt die the death: The Diuell denied it, saying, Ye shall not die: and Adam beleeued the Diuell. Now not to beleeue God, and of the contrarie to beleeue the Diuell is to ac∣count god for no true god.* 1.3 3. Stubbornes and disobedience. For he is become disobedient vnto God. 4. Vnthankefulnes for benefites receiued at his creation; as for these, that he was cre∣ated to the image of god, and to eternal life. 5. Vnnatural∣nes, iniustice, and crueltie. For there was a neglect of loue in him towardes his posteritie: because those good thinges