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

First, That the only way by which original sin as inherent is communicated to Adam's posterity is by natural generation; Not indeed by generation simply, for that is by Gods institution, and a good thing in its kind, but by the generation of a man that is fallen and corrupt; some few have thought that if Adam had not fallen, Adams posterity would have been multiplied not by generation but by some other way, which is a most irrational conceit: If then Adams children abiding in integrity had been by generation, then thereby would have been conveyed original righteousness, and an holy nature, as there is now a sinful and impure nature; original sin cometh then to us by generation from sinful parents; so that if God should miraculously create some men de novo, make children to Abraham out of stones, these would have no original sin; neither if they should beget children would original sin be transfused to them, because these would not be in Adam as a corrupt root; as for such a Question, What if God should make a man or woman out of the rib, or shoulder, or any other part of man now fallen, as Eve was at first made of a rib, whether such a person would have original sin? It is a question of needless curiosity, and so no Answer is to be formed to it: This is enough, That the ordinary way and means whereby we become polluted in sin is, because we are begotten and born of sinful parents, as David acknowledgeth, Psal 51. Austin indeed limiteth it to the libidinous disposition of mankind in begetting of children, he seemeth to lay the whole cause upon that, but he is carried out too immoderately in that point against the Pelagians; for though parents should have no sinful actual lust, yet because they are sinful originally, this is enough to infect their posterity; and if this were so, it would follow, That godly parents the more sanctified and mortified they were, they would have children less infected with original sin, then the children of those who are grossly wicked and unclean; It is then because we are born of parents polluted by Adam, that we also are polluted; as for that famous Question how original sin should be communicated to the soul of a man by generation, seeing that is created? we have already spoken to that:

First, That the only way by which original sinne as inherent is communicated to Adaems posterity is by natural generation; Not indeed by generation simply, for that is by Gods institution, and a good thing in its kind, but by the generation of a man that is fallen and corrupt; some few have thought that if Adam had not fallen, Adams posterity would have been multiplyed not by generation but by some other way, which is a most irrational conceit: If then Adams children abiding in integrity had been by generation, then thereby would have been conveyed original righteousness, and an holy nature, as there is now a sinful and impure nature; original sinne cometh then to us by generation from sinful parents; so that if God should miraculously create some men de novo, make children to Abraham out of stones, these would have no original sinne; neither if they should beget children would original sinne be transfused to them, because these would not be in Adam as a corrupt root; as for such a Question, What if God should make a man or woman out of the rib, or shoulder, or any other part of man now fallen, as Eve was at first made of a rib, whether such a person would have original sinne? It is a question of needless curiosity, and so no Answer is to be formed to it: This is enough, That the ordinary way and meanes whereby we become polluted in sinne is, because we are begotten and born of sinful parents, as David acknowledgeth, Psal 51. Austin indeed limiteth it to the libidinous disposition of mankind in begetting of children, he seemeth to lay the whole cause upon that, but he is carried out too immoderately in that point against the Pelagians; for though parents should have no sinful actual lust, yet because they are sinful originally, this is enough to infect their posterity; and if this were so, it would follow, That godly parents the more sanctified and mortified they were, they would have children less infected with original sinne, then the children of those who are grossely wicked and unclean; It is then because we are born of parents polluted by Adam, that we also are polluted; as for that famous Question how original sinne should be communicated to the soul of a man by generation, seeing that is created? we have already spoken to that: