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

The last Proposition is, That this original sin is communicated to all mankind, although they have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression; For you may happily think, it is indeed just with God to punish all such who sin like Adam, that imitate him in his wickedness; But as for others, how doth that appear becoming the righteousness and mercy of God? Now for this we have a clear attestation, Rom. 5. 14. Death reigned over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression; But what is meant by this description is ⟨p. 401⟩controverted. Those that leave out the negative, making it to run affirmatively (viz.) Who sinned after the transgression of Adam, and also those who read it thus, Death reigned after the similitude of Adams transgression, upon those who did not sin. As Verstius following Erasmus and Chrysostom, are not to be regarded; neither is that Exposition to be endured of that late Writer, with whom we have so often to do; As if the Apostle meant, That death relatively to Adams sin had no effect further then to Moses, and there it ceased, for this doth palpably contradict the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15. 22. where by Adam all are said to die. Therefore by those who sin not after the similitude of Adams transgression; Some understand it thus (viz.) not so capitally and atrociously as he did, for he sinned against an express Law; but the Apostle speaketh of such, who sinned without such a declared Law, as Hos. 6. 7. They like men have transgressed (in the original) like Adam. Many Expositors make it the proper name of Adam, hereby the Prophet aggravating their sin, That as Adam in Paradise did voluntarily transgress Gods Law; So the Jews in the good Land God had given them, did treacherously against him. But Mercer rejecteth this, because in the Hebrew it is not C•hadam with [Greek or Hebrew] emphatical, as it is commonly applied to Adam. There is such an expression in Job, which some understand of Adam, Job 31. 33. where it is translated, If I covered my transgressions as Adam, or as in the margin, After the manner of men: This interpretation may be admitted as part; but 2. we are to understand it more largely of all those who sin without a Law revealed; for the Apostle had said, That sin is not imputed, viz.