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

First, That we foolishly labour to justify our bad and sinful actions by our good intentions, as if they were able to turn evil unto good, and black into white: Is not this a continual plea among natural people, that though what they do be unlawful, yet they mean no hurt in it, they have good hearts and good intentions? Hence it is, that when they have done evil in the eyes of God, then they study to defend themselves by some intended good or other: Thus Judas, when he muttered about the ointment, poured on our Saviour, yet he pretends to good intentions, That the ointment might ⟨p. 281⟩have been sold and given to the poor. Saul, when he had rebelliously spared the best of the Cattle, yet he carrieth it, as if his intention had been to keep them for a Sacrifice to the Lord: Yea, the Pharisees in all their malicious and devilish designs against Christ, would be thought, that their high and pure intentions for the glory of God, did carry them forward in all they did. By such instances we see how prone every man is to put a good intention upon a bad action, and thereby think to wash himself clean from all guilt; but it is against the principles of Divinity, that a good intention should justify that which is a bad action: It is true, a bad intention will corrupt a good action; so vain glory, or to do any religious duty to be seen of men; This is a worm which will devour the best rose; This is a dead Fly in a box of ointment: But it doth not hold true on the contrary, That a good intention will change the nature of an evil action; The reason whereof is that known Rule, Malum est è quolibet defectu, bonum non est, nisi ex integris causis: Even as in a Picture, one defect is enough to make it uncomely, but the beauty of it is not, unless every thing be concurrent; So in music, any one jar is enough to spoil the harmony; but to make sweet music, there must be the consent of all: Do not therefore fly to thy good heart, to thy good meanings, thou intendest no hurt, for if thy action cannot be warranted by the Word, if it have not a good and lawful superscription upon it, this will never endure the fiery trial: The Apostle maketh all such conclusions full of horror and blasphemy (as it were) that argue, Let us do evil that good may come of it, Rom. 3. 8. Austin said, It was not lawful to lie, though it were to save a world.

First, That we foolishly labour to justify our bad and sinfull actions by our good intentions, as if they were able to turne evil unto good, and black into white: Is not this a continuall plea among natural people, that though what they do be unlawfull, yet they mean no hurt in it, they have good hearts and good intentions? Hence it is, that when they have done evil in the eyes of God, then they study to defend themselves by some intended good or other: Thus Judas, when he muttered about the ointment, powred on our Saviour, yet he pretends to good intentions, That the ointment might