A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

For the first. The word translated Wretched, signifieth one subject to calamities, griefs, and in a word, to all miseries. And that we may know who is thus wretched, I will enter into a description of mans misery; whereof that we may conceive aright, two things are to be considered: First the root and fountain thereof; for therein we shall best see what misery meaneth. This root is original sin, and it hath two branches: First, that particular transgression whereby Adam sinned, which was not only the sin of his person, but also of the whole nature of man, spreading it self to all his posterity, Christ excepted. Secondly, the defacing of Gods Image, and the corrupting of mans heart, which by reason of the fall of our first parents hath in it a proneness unto all sin both in will, affection, and in all the faculties of the soul. In these two stands original sin, and in them, and with them must we conceive of mans misery, as in the root thereof. Secondly, we must conceive of mans misery under the form of punishment, having relation to the first sin of Adam, & to the corruption of each mans nature thereby received. The punishment of sin, must be considered sundry ways, according to the divers kind of mans being: either in this world, or after. For it is either in this life; or at the end of this life; or after this life. And so accordingly is misery to be considered.

For the first. The word translated Wretched, signifieth one subiect to calamities, griefes, and in a word, to all miseries. And that we may know who is thus wretched, I will enter into a description of mans miserie; whereof that we may conceiue aright, two things are to bee considered: First the roote and fountaine thereof; for therein wee shall best see what miserie meaneth. This root is originall sinne, and it hath two braunches: First, that particular transgression whereby Adam sinned, which was not only the sinne of his person, but also of the whole nature of man, spreading it self to all his posterity, Christ excepted. Secondly, the defacing of Gods Image, and the corrupting of mans heart, which by reason of the fall of our first parents hath in it a pronesse vnto all sin both in will, affection, and in all the faculties of the soule. In these two stands originall sin, and in them, and with them must wee conceiue of mans misery, as in the root thereof. Secondly, we must conceiue of mans misery vnder the forme of punishmēt, hauing relation to the first sin of Adam, & to the corruption of ech mans nature therby receiued. The punishent of sin, must be considered sundry waies, according to the diuers kind of mans being: either in this world, or after. For it is either in this life; or at the end of this life; or after this life. And so accordingly is misery to be considered.