If I remember right, at Reading the second Article, you discovered your self a li•tle infirm and faulty, about Original sin, calling it only a privation of Original Righteousness, what think you now?

I think if I had Read this Article, I should never have Subscribed it, nor do I believe it now I have Subscribed it?

What nothing, no part of it?

Truely very little, a very small part of it.

Do you believe the Scriptures? if you do, I see no reason why we should not believe this sound Article of our Church, even every shred and Syllable of it. For,

1. It asserts that there is Original sin; which is called sin, Rom. 7. 8. The sining sin. Rom. 7. 13. The sin that dwelleth in us. Rom. 7, 20. The sin that so easily besets us, Heb. 11. 1. The body of sin. The body of Death. The Law in the Members. It is also called F•esh. The old * man. The Law of sin. The plague in ones own heart. And the root of bitterness. Besides the woful effects we find of it in our selves, proves it. As blindness in the mind, darkness in understanding, rebellion in the will, &c. with unholy and unclean affections, proneness to sinful, and aversness to Holy and Godly Actions.

2. Next this Article teacheth us, that this Original corruption remains in every man, even in the Regenerate: and this St. Paul acknowledgeth at large in Rom. 7. and Gal 5. 17. He saith the Flesh lusteth against, the Spirit, so that we cannot do the things we would. And St. James, Every * man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lust. And the best of Gods Children bewail the remainder and indwelling of this Lust and Corruption: doubtless therefore our Church is right thus far.

3. And also in saying, [in every person born into the world deserves Hell and Damnation] for if it be sin, as hath been proved already, it can deserve no less, Rom. 1. 18. Colos. 3.5.6. Jam. 1.15. * So that I can find nothing in this Article but may go down very well, if Arminius or Socinus hath not turned your Stomach against it.

It can never enter into my Head, that Adams sin, he being but one, should defile the Universal Nature.

I thought Socinus was in your Belly before, now he looks out at your mouth. Adam * had in him the whole Nature of mankind, and by his one offence the whole Nature was defiled.

Adams sin was not voluntary in us, we never gave gave consent to it.

There is a twofold will, Voluntas Naturae, the whole Nature of man was repre∣sented in Adam, therefore the will of Nature was sufficient to convey the sin Nature, Vo∣luntas Personae, and by every actual sin, we justifie Adams breach of Covenant, and that Text Rom. 5. 12, 19. seems clear for the imputation of Adams sin. All were in Adam, and * sinned (in him) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and so our last Translation in the Margin. Though it be rendered [for that all have sinned] yet must it be understood [in him, or sinned in Adam] else it is not true, that all upon whom death hath passed have sinned, as namely Infants newly born. There∣fore 'tis not said all are sinners, but all have sinned, which imports an imputation of Adams act unto his Posterity. So that without question you and I are as guilty of this sin, as if we had been present and joyned with Adam in it. And the offering of another Adam to thee and me in the Church, shews that the dispensation of God is not rigorous, for we may share in his obedience, as well as in the others disobedience. It is as agreeable to the Wisdom and Justice of God by the sin of the First Adam to entail death upon all his Children, as to the Wisdom and Grace of God by the Obedience and Righteousness of the Second Adam, to confer Life upon his Children. Have I said any thing towards your Conviction?

Yes, a great deal, but to little purpose, for I don't understand this putative sin, and putative Righteousness of the First and Second Adam.

Take heed [Tim.] of making a mock of these serious matters: I could tell where you learned that word [putative] for a need. But as merry as you and your Companions make your selves with it, know that if imputative Righteousness don't justifie you, you are in a worse condition than the Scribes and Pharisees, whose Righteousness Legal, I am afraid exceeded yours, and yet insufficient to carry them to Heaven, Matth. 5. 20. And St. Paul, who was as to the Law blameless, doth yet desire not to be found in his own Righteousness, but that which is by Faith through Christ Jesus, the Righteousness (putative as you in derision term it) which is in God by Faith, Phil. 3. 9. But of this in a more proper place. I only demand this of you [Tim.] that though you plaid the fool in subscribing this Article before you Read it; yet that you would not play the Knave in disowning it, now you have Subscribed it, making a mock of it: for you must needs understand it, if you understand English, for never any thing said more plainly that there is Original sin in all, remaining in the best of men, and that Adams sin is so far ours, as we deserve Hell and Damnation for it. And assure your self, unless (after this war∣ning) I hear you are Reformed as to this matter, I shall acquaint the Bishop what a Sub∣scriber and maintainer you are of the Articles of our Church, who I doubt not will call you to an account. For I stedfastly believe his Lordship holds it a less sin to be defective in the Cere∣monies, than in the Articles: and will sooner Suspend for the latter, than the former. But I hope you will give me no cause—especially when you have Read the next.