A Golden Chain

Touching the greatness of mans fall, some have made a small matter of it, because it was the eating of an apple or some such fruit But we must not measure the greatness or the smallness of a sin by the object or matter whereabout it is occupied, but by the commandment of God, and by the disobedience or offence of his infinite majesty. And that this fact of Adam and Eve was no small fault, but a notorious crime and Apostasy in which they withdraw themselves from under the power of God, nay reject and deny him, will evidently appear if we take a view of all the particular sins that be contained in it. The first is unbelief, in that they doubted and distrusted of ⟨p. 254⟩the truth of Gods word which he spake to them. The second is contempt of God, in that they believed the lies of the devil rather then him. For when God saith,¹ In the day that ye shall eat thereof, ye shall die the death, it is as nothing with Eve: but when the devil comes and saith, Ye shall not die at all, that she takes hold on. The third, is pride and ambition. For they did eat the forbidden fruit that they might be as gods, ²namely as the Father, the Son, the holy Ghost. The fourth, is unthankfulness. God had made them excellent creatures in his own image; that is nothing with them to be like unto him, unless they may be equal unto him. The fifth is curiosity, whereby they affected greater wisdom then God had given them in creation, and a greater measure of knowledge then God had revealed to them. The sixth is reproachful blasphemy, in that they subscribe to the sayings of the devil, in which he charged God with lying and envy. The seventh is murder. For by this means they bereave themselves and their posterity of the fellowship and graces of Gods spirit, and bring upon their own heads the eternal wrath of God. The eight is discontentation, in that they sought for an higher condition then that was, in which God had placed them. In a word, in this one single fact is comprised the breach of the whole law of God. And we should often think upon this, that we may learn to wonder at the just judgements of God in punishing this fall, and his unspeakable goodness in receiving men to mercy after the same.

Touching the greatnes of mans fall, some haue made a small matter of it, because it was the eating of an apple or some such fruit But we must not measure the greatnesse or the smalnesse of a sinne by the obiect or matter whereabout it is occupied, but by the commandement of God, and by the disobedience or offence of his infinite maiestie. And that this fact of Adam and Eue was no small fault, but a notorious crime and Apostasie in which they withdraw themselues from vnder the power of God, nay reiect and denie him, will euidently appeare if we take a viewe of all the particular sinnes that be contained in it. The first is vnbeleefe, in that they doubted and distrusted of