A treatise of mans imaginations Showing his natural evil thoughtsA treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts

Sect. 2. That man hath no free will to good by nature.

The second use shall be against the Papists, who ascribe to mans will a natural power to that which is truly good,¹ as by it self to co-work with Gods grace in the first act of mans conversion. But the charge of evil here laid upon the frame of mans natural heart by God himself, doth teach us otherwise: for look how far the frame of the mind, which is the principal part of the soul, is corrupt for thoughts and Imaginations, so far is the will, the inferior part of the soul corrupt in willing. But the mind is naturally so corrupt that it can not think a good thought, and therefore answerably the will by nature is so corrupt, that it can not will that which is truly good. If it ⟨p. 164⟩be said, that man hath liberty of will in humane actions and in civill duties: Answ. he hath, but yet such actions proceeding from a corrupt fountain, are sins in every natural man, howsoever for the matter of the works they may be called good, being such as God himself ordained.

The second vse shall bee against the Papists, who ascribe to mans will a naturall power to that which is truly good,¹ as by it selfe to co-worke with Gods grace in the first act of mans conuersion. But the charge of euill heere layd vpon the frame of mans naturall heart by God himselfe, doth teach vs otherwise: for looke howe farre the frame of the minde, which is the principall part of the soule, is corrupt for thoughts and Imaginations, so farre is the will, the inferiour part of the soule corrupt in willing. But the minde is naturally so corrupt that it can not thinke a good thought, and therefore answerably the will by nature is so corrupt, that it can not will that which is truly good. If it