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

Fifthly, The pollution of the memory is seen, In that it is not now subject in the exercise of it to our will and power. We cannot remember when we would, and when it doth most concern us, whereas in the state of integrity, Adam had such an universal Dominion over all the powers of his soul, that they acted at what time, and in what measure he pleased: Thus his affections were subject to him in respect of their rise, progress and degree; and so for his memory, he had all things in his mind, as he would: Some indeed question, Whether Adam did then Intelligere per Phantasmata? But that seemeth inseparable from the nature of man, while upon the earth, and living an animal life, though without sin. No doubt his soul being the form of the whole man, did act dependently upon the instrumentality of the body, though such was the admirable constitution of his body, that nothing could make the operations thereof irregular. Adam then had nothing which could either Physically or Morally hinder the memory, but all was under his voluntary command, whereas such an impotency is upon us, that if we would give a world, we cannot remember the things we would; Hence we are force to compel our selves, by one thing after another, to bring to our minds what is forgotten, for in remembering there is some dependence of one thing upon another; as rings, if tied together, are more easily taken hold of, then when they lie singly and loosely. And this Austin (lib. 10. confess.) maketh to be the Etymology of the word Cogito, Cogito à cogo, as Agito ab ago, Factito à facio, as if to cogitate were to force and compel things into our minds. Let us then mourn and humble our selves under this great pollution of nature, that those things which are of such infinite consequence, which are as much as our salvation and eternal happiness are worth, yet we do not, we cannot remember.

Fifthly, The pollution of the memory is seen, In that it is not now subject in the exercise of it to our will and power. We cannot remember when we would, and when it doth most concern us, whereas in the state of integrity, Adam had such an universal Dominion over all the powers of his soul, that they acted at what time, and in what measure he pleased: Thus his affections were subject to him in respect of their rise, progress and degree; and so for his memory, he had all things in his mind, as he would: Some indeed question, Whether Adam did then Intelligere per Phantasmata? But that seemeth inseparable from the nature of man, while upon the earth, and living an animal life, though without sinne. No doubt his soul being the form of the whole man, did act dependently upon the instrumentality of the body, though such was the admirable constitution of his body, that nothing could make the operations thereof irregular. Adam then had nothing which could either Physically or Morally hinder the memory, but all was under his voluntary command, whereas such an impotency is upon us, that if we would give a world, we cannot remember the things we would; Hence we are force to compel our selves, by one thing after another, to bring to our minds what is forgotten, for in remembring there is some dependance of one thing upon another; as rings, if tied together, are more easily taken hold of, then when they lie singly and loosly. And this Austin (lib. 10. confes.) maketh to be the Etimology of the word Cogito, Cogito à cogo, as Agito ab ago, Factito à facio, as if to cogitate were to force and compell things into our minds. Let us then mourn and humble our selves under this great pollution of nature, that those things which are of such infinite consequence, which are as much as our salvation and eternal happiness are worth, yet we do not, we cannot remember.