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

First, Herein is the corruption of it manifested, that when it doth accuse, when it doth trouble, is doth it preposterously, not seasonably, and opportunely: For when is the fittest time for conscience to interpose, to put forth its effectual operation, but before the sin is committed? To meet a man, as the Angel did Balaam with a drawn sword, before he curse the people: But this it seldom doth, only when the sin is committed, when God is dishonoured, when guilt is contracted, then it accuseth, and that not so much as acting under God, to bring about true peace by repentance and faith, but as the Devils instrument to bring to despair, and so from one sin to plunge into a greater: Thus it was with Judas, how many powerful and penetrating arguments did he meet with, to awaken his conscience? He had thunder-claps enough to raise and awaken his conscience, though dead, and yet for all that, it never smiteth him, it never accuseth him, till he had committed that abominable and unnatural sin: What predictions? What warnings had Judas to make him fly from this sin? our Saviour told his Disciples, One should betray him, yea particularly he describeth Judas, he telleth him, He was the man; our Saviour forewarned him of the fearful estate of that man, who should betray him, that it had ben better he never had been born; and if anger or threatening would not break him; Our Saviour used love to melt him, He washed his feet, as well as the feet of other Disciples, but still conscience in Judas is like an Adamant, and when all this will not do any good, but Judas cometh with a band of soldiers, as the captain and head of them, he seeth some fall down for astonishment and amazement at the presence of our Lord Christ, yet this neither doth startle him, he hath not so much as any regretting and remurmurating thoughts, but goeth on desperately to accomplish his design, and now when all is done, when every thing his wicked heart desired was brought to pass, then his conscience like a roaring Lyon, beginneth to awaken out of sleep and to break its chains in pieces; Then he crieth out, I have sinned in betraying of innocent blood; Oh had conscience suggested this before; when the motions to this sin were first kindled in his breast, had he then cast them out of doors with indignation, this is to betray the innocent, this is to become guilty of blood!

First, Herein is the corruption of it manifested, that when it doth accuse, when it doth trouble, is doth it preposterously, not seasonably, and opportunely: For when is the fittest time for conscience to interpose, to put forth its effectual operation, but before the sinne is committed? To meet a man, as the Angel did Balaam with a drawen sword, before he curse the people: But this it seldome doth, onely when the sinne is committed, when God is dishonoured, when guilt is contracted, then it accuseth, and that not so much as acting under God, to bring about true peace by repentance and faith, but as the Devils instrument to bring to despair, and so from one sinne to plunge into a greater: Thus it was with Judas, how many powerfull and penetrating arguments did he meet with, to awaken his conscience? He had thunder-claps enough to raise and awaken his conscience, though dead, and yet for all that, it never smiteth him, it never accuseth him, till he had committed that abominable and unnatural sin: What predictions? What warnings had Judas to make him fly from this sinne? our Saviour told his Disciples, One should betray him, yea particularly he describeth Judas, he telleth him, He was the man; our Saviour forewarned him of the fearfull estate of that man, who should betray him, that it had ben better he never had been born; and if anger or threatning would not break him; Our Saviour used love to melt him, He washed his feet, as well as the feet of other Disciples, but still conscience in Judas is like an Adamant, and when all this will not do any good, but Judas cometh with a band of souldiers, as the captain and head of them, he seeth some fall down for astonishment and amazement at the presence of our Lord Christ, yet this neither doth startle him, he hath not so much as any regretting and remurmurating thoughts, but goeth on desperately to accomplish his design, and now when all is done, when every thing his wicked heart desired was brought to pass, then his conscience like a roaring Lyon, beginneth to awaken out of sleep and to break its chaines in peices; Then he cryeth out, I have sinned in betraying of innocent bloud; Oh had conscience suggested this before; when the motions to this sinne were first kindled in his breast, had he then cast them out of doores with indignation, this is to betray the innocent, this is to become guilty of bloud!