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

Fourthly, To maintain the slavery of the will to sin, and to deny any liberty ⟨p. 310⟩to that which is holy and godly, is a truth so unpleasing to flesh and blood, doth so reproach (as it's thought) mankind, that it hath always in the Church of God, (by some heretical persons or others) been spoken against; It hath been judged very scandalous and offensive, as that which did lay the axe to the root of all Religion and holiness; But yet experience hath taught us, that none have expressed so much holiness in their lives, as those who have had this truth of Christs grace incorporated into them; and on the other side, the Pelagian Doctrine hath left upon mens spirits, like leaven, à cornu & tumorem, a sourness and bitterness, as also a tumour and vaunting confidence in themselves; So that if the denying of free-will and exalting the grace of God be so profane an opinion in its genius and inclination (as some calumniate,) it's a miracle, that from such a poisoned fountain such sweet streams should flow, and from such thorns so pleasant grapes should grow. But the reason of this offence to flesh and blood, is the self-love and self-fullness that is in every man by nature; spiritual pride and self-confidence do reign in all men by nature; hence it is that though they be naked, yet they are not ashamed of it, which in Adam (while innocent) did come from his integrity, but in corrupt man from his senselessness and stupidity. No wonder then if this Doctrine of grace be not justified cordially, and as it ought to be, but by the sons of grace, who have felt the power and efficacy of it upon their hearts, who have experimentally found the grace of God freeing their will from all that bondage it was in to sin and Sataen.

Fourthly, To maintain the slavery of the will to sinne, and to deny any liberty ⟨p. 310⟩to that which is holy and godly, is a truth so unpleasing to flesh and blood, doth so reproach (as it's thought) mankind, that it hath alwayes in the Church of God, (by some heretical persons or others) been spoken against; It hath been judged very scandalous and offensive, as that which did lay the axe to the root of all Religion and holiness; But yet experience hath taught us, that none have expressed so much holiness in their lives, as those who have had this truth of Christs grace incorporated into them; and on the other side, the Pelagian Doctrine hath left upon mens spirits, like leaven, à cornu & tumorem, a sowreness and bitterness, as also a tumor and vaunting confidence in themselves; So that if the denying of free-will and exalting the grace of God be so prophane an opinion in its genius and inclination (as some calumniate,) it's a miracle, that from such a poisoned fountain such sweet streames should flow, and from such thornes so pleasant grapes should grow. But the reason of this offence to flesh and blood, is the self-love and self-fullness that is in every man by nature; spiritual pride and self-confidence do reign in all men by nature; hence it is that though they be naked, yet they are not ashamed of it, which in Adam (while innocent) did come from his integrity, but in corrupt man from his senslesness and stupidity. No wonder then if this Doctrine of grace be not justified cordially, and as it ought to be, but by the sonnes of grace, who have felt the power and efficacy of it upon their hearts, who have experimentally found the grace of God freeing their will from all that bondage it was in to sinne and Sataen.