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

For the Coherence of it briefly take notice that the Apostle at the 17th verse giveth a short but dreadful Description of a Gentile conversation, or the life of one without the knowledge of Christ; wherein you may observe a three-fold ignorance or blindness upon all such, so impossible is it that of themselves they should ever come to see; There is a natural blindness, a voluntary contracted blindness, and a Judicial one inflicted on them by God, for abuse of natural light. These there are mentioned in the 18th verse. And in this vers. 19. we have the formidable consequence declared, That being past feeling, no remorse of conscience in them, They give up themselves to all wickedness with greediness: Oh that this were only among Pagans! But how many have this natural, voluntary and judicial blindness and obstinacy upon them under the light of the Gospel? Yea, their eyes are more blinded, and hearts more hardened, where the means of grace have been contemned, then in the places where the name of Christ hath not been known. This black condition of Heathens being described, he compareth those of Christians with it, and so we have darkness and light here set together; And this the Apostle declareth, vers. 20. But ye have not so learned Christ; Christ teacheth no such wickedness, yet because many may have a bare knowledge, and a vain empty profession of Christ, and live such Paganish lives, he addeth a corrective to his speech, which is worthy of all attention, If so be ye have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. This is an excellent limitation, men may know Christ, profess Christ, and yet not do it, as the truth is in Jesus; that is not to obey the Doctrine of Christ, as he hath commanded; Christ never required that thou shouldst only make a profession of faith in him, and then for thy life, that that may be full of vice and corruption, know, if you do so, you know not the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. We have a like expression, Colos. 1. 6. where the godly are said, To know the grace of God in truth•, and Tit. 1. 1. There is the acknowledging of the truth after godliness: Oh let such hear, and let their ears tingle, and their hearts tremble, who come to Church, profess Christ, and yet run in all excess of riot!

For the Coherence of it briefly take notice that the Apostle at the 17th verse giveth a short but dreadfull Description of a Gentile conversation, or the life of one without the knowledge of Christ; wherein you may observe a three-fold ignorance or blindness upon all such, so impossible is it that of themselves they should ever come to see; There is a natural blindness, a voluntary contracted blindness, and a Judicial one inflicted on them by God, for abuse of natural light. These there are mentioned in the 18th verse. And in this vers. 19. we have the formidable consequence declared, That being past feeling, no remorse of conscience in them, They give up themselves to all wickednesse with greedinesse: Oh that this were only among Pagans! But how many have this natural, voluntary and judicial blindness and obstinacy upon them under the light of the Gospel? Yea, their eyes are more blinded, and hearts more hardned, where the means of grace have been contemned, then in the places where the name of Christ hath not been known. This black condition of Heathens being described, he compareth those of Christians with it, and so we have darkness and light here set together; And this the Apostle declareth, vers. 20. But ye have not so learned Christ; Christ teacheth no such wickednesse, yet because many may have a bare knowledge, and a vain empty profession of Christ, and live such Paganish lives, he addeth a corrective to his speech, which is worthy of all attention, If so be ye have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. This is an excellent limitation, men may know Christ, professe Christ, and yet not do it, as the truth is in Jesus; that is not to obey the Doctrine of Christ, as he hath commanded; Christ never required that thou shouldst only make a profession of faith in him, and then for thy life, that that may be full of vice and corruption, know, if you do so, you know not the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. We have a like expression,