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

Our work then is to show, That Christ only excepted, every one of mankind is involved in this common sin and misery, there is none that can plead any exemption from it; For seeing it is made the peculiar privilege of Christ to be so born, because conceived after a miraculous manner, it therefore necessarily followeth, that all others are comprehended under this guilt; Though you may see some men from the youth up, less vicious then others, more ingenuous and civil then others, yet even these are by nature all over sinful; so that there is no such thing as a natural probity and goodness, of which the Socinians dispute, as in time is to be showed; That it is the prerogative of Christ only to be freed not only from all actual sin, but also original and birth-sin is evident by this Text, which containeth an answer of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, who with some trouble and amazement had questioned, how she should conceive a Son, who knew not a man? The Angels answer consisteth in the information of the manner, how it shall be, and the consequent issue, and event thereof; The Manner is expressed in the efficient cause, and his efficacy. The Efficient cause is said to be the holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest. A person not the virtue only of God, as the Socinians blaspheme, as appeareth •n that we are baptized into the name of the holy Ghost, who is reckoned one ⟨p. 388⟩of the three with the Father and Son, as also by the personal operations and characters attributed to him, which cannot be cluded with the figure of a Proso-[Greek or Hebrew], as some endeavour: It is true, The works of God ad extra, are common to all the three Persons, yet there is a peculiar order and appropriation, and therefore the preparing and forming of Christs body out of the Virgin Mary, is peculiarly ascribed unto the holy Ghost.

Our work then is to shew, That Christ onely excepted, every one of mankind is involved in this common sinne and misery, there is none that can plead any exemption from it; For seeing it is made the peculiar priviledge of Christ to be so born, because conceived after a miraculous manner, it therefore necessarily followeth, that all others are comprehended under this guilt; Though you may see some men from the youth up, lesse vicious then others, more ingenuous and civil then others, yet even these are by nature all over sinfull; so that there is no such thing as a natural probity and goodness, of which the Socinians dispute, as in time is to be shewed; That it is the prerogative of Christ only to be freed not only from all actual sinne, but also original and birth-sinne is evident by this Text, which containeth an answer of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, who with some trouble and amazement had questioned, how she should conceive a Sonne, who knew not a man? The Angels answer consisteth in the information of the manner, how it shall be, and the consequent issue, and event thereof; The Manner is expressed in the efficient cause, and his efficacy. The Efficient cause is said to be the holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest. A person not the vertue only of God, as the Socinians blaspheme, as appeareth n that we are baptized into the name of the holy Ghost, who is reckoned one