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

SECT. II.

The great Objections that are against asserting the Souls Creation.

IT is certain that here are dangerous rocks on both sides, for if we say, the soul is created, then seeing God cannot but make every thing holy, he cannot make a sinful soul, how then can it be infected with sin? Again, if the soul be created, then it was not virtually in Adam, then it could not be said to sin in him, because it was never in him, for why did not Christ sin in him, but because he was not seminally in him, and if the soul was never radically in Adam, how can it be polluted, is it just with God to punish that with Adams sin which never sinned in Adam? If it be said, that the soul when united to the body, doth from that receive infection, as if pure liquor were poured into a stinking vessel, This will not solve but increase the doubt, for a vessel indeed may pollute liquor. because they are both bodies and so act by a corporal contact, but the soul is a spirit, and its a rule (say they) received by all, that a body cannot act upon a spirit, Besides, sin is properly in the soul, and must from that be conveyed to the body: The body, why without a soul, is not capable of sin no more then a brute beast; It hath no reason, it is under no law, how then can that communicate sin to the soul, when it hath none at all it self? Thus you see what strong cords here are, even that a Sampson can hardly break.

IT is certain that here are dangerous rocks on both sides, for if we say, the soul is created, then seeing God cannot but make every thing holy, he cannot make a sinfull soul, how then can it be infected with sinne? Again, if the soul be created, then it was not virtually in Adam, then it could not be said to sinne in him, because it was never in him, for why did not Christ sinne in him, but because he was not seminally in him, and if the soul was never radically in Adam, how can it be polluted, is it just with God to punish that with Adams sinne which never sinned in Adam? If it be said, that the soul when united to the body, doth from that receive infection, as if pure liquour were powred into a stinking vessel, This will not solve but increase the doubt, for a vessel indeed may pollute liquour. because they are both bodies and so act by a corporall contact, but the soul is a spirit, and its a rule (say they) received by all, that a body cannot act upon a spirit, Besides, sinne is properly in the soul, and must from that be conveyed to the body: The body, whie without a soul, is not capable of sinne no more then a bruit beast; It hath no reason, it is under no law, how then can that communicate sinne to the soul, when it hath none at all it self? Thus you see what strong cords here are, even that a Sampson can hardly break.