The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

1. Infidelity: This was the first step to ruin. It appears by the order of the Temptation: 'twas first said by the Devil, Ye shall not die, to weaken their Faith; then ye shall be like gods, to flatter their ambition. The fear of Death would have controlled the efficacy of all his Arguments; till that restraint was broke, he could fasten nothing upon them. This ⟨p. 25⟩account the Apostle gives of the Fall; The woman being deceived, was in the transgression. ¹As Obedience is the effect of Faith, so Disobedience of Infidelity. And as Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so Infidelity by listening to the words of the Devil. From the deception of the Mind proceeded the depravation of the Will, the intemperance of the Appetite, and the defection of the whole Man. Thus as the natural, so the spiritual Death made its first entrance by the Eye.² And this Infidelity is extremely aggravated, as it implies an accusation of God both of envy and falsehood.

1. Infidelity: This was the first step to ruine. It appears by the order of the Temptation: 'twas first said by the Devil, Ye shall not die, to weaken their Faith; then ye shall be like gods, to flatter their ambition. The fear of Death would have contrould the efficacy of all his Arguments; till that restraint was broke, he could fasten nothing upon them. This ⟨p. 25⟩account the Apostle gives of the Fall; The woman being deceiv'd, was in the transgression. ¹As Obedience is the effect of Faith, so Disobedience of Infidelity. And as Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so Infidelity by listening to the words of the Devil. From the deception of the Mind proceeded the depravation of the Will, the intemperance of the Appetite, and the defection of the whole Man. Thus as the natural, so the spiritual Death made its first entrance by the Eye.² And this Infidelity is extremely aggravated, as it implies an accusation of God both of envy and falshood.