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

WE shall in the next place, consider those that relate to the means which lead to the end; and I shall first begin with Election or Choosing, because in that is contained either life or death; For as the Election of God, or his mere choosing of some to eternal life, is the fountain of all the good, which such persons partake of, all their springs are in it; So the election or choice of man is the womb, wherein all happiness or misery is conceived: If a man have right intentions and true ends, yet if he choose false, sinful and ungodly means, he can never come to that end; It is as if a man should intend his home, or dwelling-place, which is in the North, and he choose that road or way, which leadeth into the South. It is acknowledged by all, That in every man there is an innate appetite to the chiefest good; but as naturally all men do err about the knowledge of it, what it is, so also about the means, how to attain it. But let us open this viper, and see what a poisonous brood is in it. As

WE shall in the next place, consider those that relate to the means which lead to the end; and I shall first begin with Election or Chusing, because in that is contained either life or death; For as the Election of God, or his meer chusing of some to eternal life, is the fountain of all the good, which such persons partake of, all their springs are in it; So the election or choice of man is the womb, wherein all happiness or misery is conceived: If a man have right intentions and true ends, yet if he chuse false, sinfull and ungodly means, he can never come to that end; It is as if a man should intend his home, or dwelling-place, which is in the North, and he chuse that road or way, which leadeth into the South. It is acknowledged by all, That in every man there is an innate appetite to the chiefest good; but as naturally all men do erre about the knowledge of it, what it is, so also about the means, how to attain it. But let us open this viper, and see what a poisonous brood is in it. As

First, Herein is the sinfulness of the wills choice manifested, That it electeth and embraceth such things as are pleasing to flesh and blood, that are suitable to sense, although there be never so many snares and temptations, thereby to endanger the soul. As it was with Lot,