Concerning the Dispute between the Papists, which could never be ended upon their accounts, that he Alexander-like hath cut in pieces this Gordian-knot, Therefore he affirmeth, not only her, but all her family (and why not all mankind?) were free from it: but it is a Thrasonical boast, and withal full of falsehood, for hereby original sin is wholly removed, made to be a meer Non ens; The Subject of the Question is quite taken away, so that by his principles, all the Disputations about original sin will be de non ente, as he acknowledgeth in some sense, a striving about a shadow; yea, and which is the most horrible, every one shall now be born as pure as Christ, in respect of his humane nature; There is no difference between Christ and all the rest of mankind, as in respect of their natural immunity from sin. His Clemens Alexandrinus would have informed him better, when he saith, Stromatum lib. 1, [Greek or Hebrew], The Word (that is, Christ) is only without sin, for in all men it is inbred to sin, whatsoever Clemens at other times may deliver about this original sin, here he acknowledgeth it, and indeed it is easy out of the Ancients to bring contrary passages that seem to savour opposite Doctrines; But concerning this poisonous opinion, we shall have constant occasion to treat of. As for the Franciscans and other Popish Writers, that plead for the Virgin Mary's purity, they can bring no Scripture, but urge some plausible reasons, as thinking ⟨p. 399⟩thereby to give her the more honour, especially revelations and miracles are strongly urged in this point; But the Scripture is to be our Rule in this matter, and there we see none exempted. Besides the Virgin Mary calls Christ her Saviour, which implieth necessarily, that she had sin, yea she had also actual sins, as might be proved, although the Papists will not endure to hear of it; Neither doth this make to the dishonour of Christ, to be born of a mother that had sin in her, for seeing he is separated from it, it is his greater glory that he alone is exempted: And besides, we see that the more Christ was debased and made low (but without sin) hereby is he the more honoured as a Mediator:
Concerning the Dispute between the Papists, which could never be ended upon their accounts, that he Alexander-like hath cut in pieces this Gordian-knot, Therefore he affirmeth, not only her, but all her family (and why not all mankind?) were free from it: but it is a Thrasonical boast, and withall full of falshood, for hereby original sin is wholly removed, made to be a meer Non ens; The Subject of the Question is quite taken away, so that by his principles, all the Disputations about original sin will be de non ente, as he acknowledgeth in some sense, a striving about a shadow; yea, and which is the most horrible, every one shall now be born as pure as Christ, in respect of his humane nature; There is no difference between Christ and all the rest of mankind, as in respect of their natural immunity from sinne. His Clemens Alexandrinus would have informed him better, when he saith, Stromatum lib. 1, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, The Word (that is, Christ) is only without sinne, for in all men it is imbred to sinne, whatsoever Clemens at other times may deliver about this original sinne, here he acknowledgeth it, and indeed it is easie out of the Ancients to bring contrary passages that seem to savour opposite Doctrines; But concerning this poisonous opinion, we shall have constant occasion to treat of. As for the Franciscans and other Popish Writers, that plead for the Virgin Mary's purity, they can bring no Scripture, but urge some plausible reasons, as thinking ⟨p. 399⟩thereby to give her the more honour, especially revelations and miracles are strongly urged in this point; But the Scripture is to be our Rule in this matter, and there we see none exempted. Besides the Virgin Mary cals Christ her Saviour, which implieth necessarily, that she had sinne, yea she had also actual sins, as might be proved, although the Papists will not endure to hear of it; Neither doth this make to the dishonour of Christ, to be born of a mother that had sinne in her, for seeing he is separated from it, it is his greater glory that he alone is exempted: And besides, we see that the more Christ was debased and made low (but without sinne) hereby is he the more honoured as a Mediator:
