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2. The well improved naturall man in a Pelagian dresse, and on Pelagian principles, proceeding in the enquiry, and pretending to have made the discovery of this indwel∣ling concupiscence, and boasting themselves as who rightly know it; But how much
they were mistaken, a very briefe recoun∣ting of the opinions, and Positions concer∣ing this matter will evince. Chemnitius (then whom scarce a more learned divine can be found among the Lutherans) tell's us that the Pelagians deny the whole doctrine touching Originall sin, and blot out the very name of it also: Nor is he single in this re∣port of them. Pet: Martyr tel's us as much: nay who is there that send's us intelligence from the Armies of the living God, that doth not assure us, that this is one, a princi∣pall strong hold, which these men have for∣tified against Grace, and the truth of Christ; but let us give you a transient view of what they teach their disciples, and would obtrude on us.
Pelagius at Rome (whither he came, after he was discovered in the East) began to maintaine the opinion of Sinlesse perfection, Defendere Coepit 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Vessius: A Doctrine which floweth from a proud heart, which know••s not its own sinfulnesse, a corrupt stream which ran through the stoicke Philosophers, tain∣red Origen, and overflowed Pelagius and his followers, as Hiereme hath observed (as he is cited by Joh:Ger:Vossius) and the evident
connexion of the conclusions to the princi∣ples of those men, and the undeniable con∣formity of their dictates, which any one may see, who will be at the paines to compare them, in their Paradoxes gathered together by Justus Lipsius, with the Doctrine of the Pilagians, mentioned and refuted by St Au∣gustine, collected into one by the learned paines, both of Vossius and Cornel: Jansenius in his large and learned Book called Augu∣stinus, seu Doctrina St Augustini &c. In a word it is well known how highly these men advanced nature, cryed up the sufficiency and power of it which cannot be but where first there is a great degree of ignorance or errour and mistakes in the doctrine of O∣riginall sin:and what these mistakes (if here∣sy may be so called) were, beside, the Au∣thors mentioned. Dr Featly will give us an account in his Pelagius Redivivus &c. to which Authors I referre Scholars who can examine and compare these together, and hope others will take it on the word of one, who is willing to be tryed by such as are able to judge in this cause, and therefore cannot be suspected of a purpose to impose upon them, briefely when we read that these men taught their Disciples.
When we read these, and such like Do∣ctrines, we evidently see and need no farther proofe to demonstrate, that these men have not discovered this sinning sinne, and yet they were men of naturall, and improved parts: so was Pelagius, a man excellent for learning, as August: cited by Vossius. So was Caelestius a man of acute Judgment and well improved; for he wrote whilest young, three Epistles, of which Gennadius affirmeth they were omni Deum desideranti necessariae so was Julian Ingenii, doctrinae, facundiae prae∣cellentis, saith Vossius, a man acer ingenio saith Gennadius, yet how brutish were these Pastours in their understanding of this point!
Pelagiani universam doctrinam de Peccato originali negant, nc∣mincetiam sublato. loc. com. de Pec∣cat. orig. Pet. Martyr loc. com. cl. 2
Histor. Pe∣lagian. l. 1. c. 3.
Just. Lipsi∣us in suâ man••duct. ad stoicam Philoso∣pham.
Pelagian Haeresies.
Augustin-Epist. ad Paulinum subinitio.