Certaine letters of Henry Jeanes minister of Gods word at Chedzoy and Dr. Jeremy Taylor concerning a passage of his, in his further explication of originall sin.

Jeanes.

I wonder why you should think it so easie a matter to understand your meaning, seeing you, who are the Author, differ from your self in assigning what it is; for in your Letter unto Mr. C. you apportion'd this second Reason solely unto the first Clause; That every man is inclined to evil, some more, some less, but all, in some in∣stances is very true: And here in your Letter to me, you apply it unto the second Clause: It is an effect or condition of nature, but no sin properly. Suppose I were at a loss, yet you have no reason to blame me, until you agree with your self: I have no Spectacles to look into your meaning, but your words, and that they were rela∣ted onely unto one Proposition, as a reason thereof; and yet related to two Propo∣sitions, as a proof of each, was a thing that I could never possibly divine, nor

cannot yet understand; and herein, I am afraid, you are as unable to teach me how this can be, as I am uncapable of learning; but if you can teach any such thing unto me, you shall finde me, though perhaps not an apt, yet a willing and thankful Scholar: But to deal plainly with you, I am very confident that your words in themselves hold forth neither of those senses that you propound; and if by dint of argument you can prove either of them from your words, you shall have my most penitent and submissive confession of my mistake, and shall have full leave to prescribe me as publick and shameful a satisfaction, as you can think on; unto which, I do promise to conform my self. But let us hear how you point out your meaning to me.