A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

Fourthly, Our original corruption will yet further appear, If you take notice of that universal ignorance and dullness that is upon a mans understanding, knowing no saving thing about God or Christ, if it be not revealed: Insomuch that the necessity of Scripture-light, of revealed-light to conduct us to heaven, doth without contradiction, prove that by nature; we are (as Paul said) Ephes. 4, darkness, even darkness it self; Look over the generation of mankind, that are the wisest and most learned, where the light of Gods word hath not shore upon them, Rom. 1. 1. The Apostle there informeth us, that the doctrine of the Gospel was foolishness to them, that professing themselves to be wise they became foolish in their imaginations, what Aristotle or Plato could ever by natural reason understand any thing of Christ? If then we lay this for a sure foundation, (though some would absurdly question it) That without the knowledge of Christ and faith in him, none can be saved; And that none by nature can come to this knowledge, then it followeth undeniably, that damnable ignorance doth cover the face of our souls, as darkness did the deep at first, That there is a very Chaos in our souls: Oh then that we had knowledge to know our ignorance! Oh that the dark dungeon we are shut up in might not be so pleasing to us! In that the Gospel is called a mystery; In that flesh and blood doth not reveal the things of Christ to us, this showeth our wretched estate in sin; Adam had knowledge about the means rending to everlasting happiness, otherwise God would have made him imperfect; but now we are ignorant of Christ the way: All that live in the Church, had it not been for revealed light, would have groped in darkness, as we see all Heathens and Pagans do: If therefore you would see, what our natures are of themselves, consider the Savages, the Indians, the Pagans of the world, who as to any right knowledge of God have little more then brute beasts; we cannot so well see what mans nature is of it self, who live in the Church, because there is the light of the Gospel, and many times ⟨p. 179⟩godly education, and Christian institution of us while young doth restrain sin, otherwise if there were not this planting and watering of us, we should not know any more about Christ, then the most rude Barbarian that is;