This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
ADam Dei manu, nec non deliciis Pa∣radisi, & legislatione prima factus est dignus, sed ne quid blasphemum contra primae∣vum proferam parentem, reverentiâ dictum sit, Mandatum non servavit, quoth Na∣zianz. orat. 8. Adam being tempted by Satan did transgresse that one easy Com∣mandment, and so became guilty of all, and losing his righteousnesse, hee forefeited his happinesse, by Sin, the breach of Gods Commandement and Covenant.
This Sinne of Man was voluntary, not necessary, though he sinned being tempted by another, for hee had strength enough given him of God, and more was ready to have been supplyed unto him, if he had craved it, wherby he might have vanquished the Tempter, and have stood firme in his obedience, but hee willingly consented, and yeelded to the deceiver.
Neither was this fall caused by God (though foreknowne) but onely permit∣ted, when God, if hee would, could have hindred it.
1. Because hee would not impeach the freedome of will that hee had given unto Man, Continuit in ipso & praescientiam, & praepotentiam suam, per quas intercessisse potuisset, quo minus homo malè libertate sua frui aggressus, in periculum laberetur: si enim interc••ssisset, rescidisset arbitrii liber∣tatem quam ratione & bonitate permiserat. Tert. in Marcian. 2. (where note, that is call'd libertas Arbitrii, which is ad malum, and was in Adam before he sinned.)
2. Because hee saw it would offer him a faire occasion to manifest his Wisdome and Goodnesse, yet more graciously than
hee had done in the Creation: which hee had forethought on, and foreknew how to restore man fallen, before hee decreed to permit the fall, namely, by the most ad∣mirable and glorious workes of the Incar∣nation, Sufferings, Resurrection, and Assension of the Sonne of God, intending by the obedience of one Man to make many righteous, as by the disobedience of one many were made sinners.
3. Because God knew it would off••r unto man a just occasion (if he were dealt withall againe in the second Covenant) both to be more thankfull, and more wary, and carefull, and so many more possible to be saved by a second Covenant made with man fallen, then would have beene by the first, if Adam had stood, and the Covenant of workes had beene held on with all his posterity: for naturall per∣fections easily beget Pride, and Confidence in our selves, which is the first degree of aversion from God, and the beginning of ruine: but wants and weaknesses do humble us, and make us fly to God, and cleave more close unto him.
That the fall of man was known before the Decree of Creation, the Creation it selfe doth shew, where there are infinite things prepared for mans use onely as
fallen, as all medicinall Herbs prepared for Physick; Physick presumeth sicknesse, and sicknesse presumeth sin.