In the next place, A second Proposition is, That even in the state of integrity, had not Adam fallen, children new born would have been without actual knowledge, as well as in corrupted nature, they would not have been born with perfect use of their reason, no more then they would have been born with perfect and complete bodies, for such could not have been contained in the womb. We take it for granted, (though some have been for the negative) that in the state of innocency there would have been multiplication of children by generation, which appeareth in the Creation of a woman for a man, and if so, then that the children at that time born, though they would have been free from original sin, and all the general effects thereof, yet would not have been born in a perfect ability actually to use their reason. Indeed the Scripture is wholly silent, what would have been done, if man had not fallen, and therefore nothing can be certainly determined, unless we had some divine revelation about it, yet there is a good Rule given, that we must think God would then keep to that ordinary way of nature, which we now find, except where sin and the effects thereof have made a difference; we are not to make miracles and extraordinary workings of God, unless some necessity of reason compel thereunto, and thus it would be here, if children new born should have had perfect actual knowledge. It is true, Austin doth seem to incline (Vide Augustin. de peccator. Mer. & Rmeist. lib. 1. cap. 35, 36. especially cap. 37. that as soon as ever the children were come forth from the womb, God would have made them great and perfect bodies, as he did Eve of Adam's rib immediately, or at least made them fit for all motions of the body; but this is so improbable, that Austin cannot be excused, unless we think he spake it doubtingly, and by way of inquisition, yea not only concerning the body, but even the soul also, that a child is so long without the use of reason, he seemeth to make it not from mere nature, but vitiated and polluted; This (we say) hath no probability, for we must not think that God would have always in the state of innocency, wrought miraculously in the constant propagation of mankind. It is true, the blindness that is habitually upon the mind of every Infant, whereby it is indisposed to receive the Truths of God when grown up, would not then have been in Infants;
In the next place, A second Proposition is, That even in the state of integrity, had not Adam fallen, children new born would have been without actual knowledge, as well as in corrupted nature, they would not have been born with perfect use of their reason, no more then they would have been born with perfect and compleat bodies, for such could not have been contained in the womb. We take it for granted, (though some have been for the negative) that in the state of innocency there would have been multiplication of children by generation, which appeareth in the Creation of a woman for a man, and if so, then that the children at that time born, though they would have been free from original sinne, and all the general effects thereof, yet would not have been born in a perfect ability actually to use their reason. Indeed the Scripture is wholly silent, what would have been done, if man had not fallen, and therefore nothing can be certainly determined, unless we had some divine revelation about it, yet there is a good Rule given, that we must think God would then keep to that ordinary way of nature, which we now find, except where sinne and the effects thereof have made a difference; we are not to make miracles and extraordinary workings of God, unless some necessity of reason compell thereunto, and thus it would be here, if children new born should have had perfect actual knowledge. It is true, Austin doth seem to incline (Vide Augustin. de peccator. Mer. & Rmeist. lib. 1. cap. 35, 36. especially cap. 37. that as soon as ever the children were come forth from the womb, God would have made them great and perfect bodies, as he did Eve of Adam's rib immediately, or at least made them fit for all motions of the body; but this is so improbable, that Austin cannot be excused, unless we think he spake it doubtingly, and by way of inquisition, yea not only concerning the body, but even the soul also, that a child is so long without the use of reason, he seemeth to make it not from meer nature, but vitiated and polluted; This (we say) hath no probability, for we must not think that God would have alwayes in the state of innocency, wrought miraculously in the constant propagation of mankind. It is true, the blindness that is habitually upon the mind of every Infant, whereby it is indisposed to receive the Truths of God when grown up, would not then have been in Infants;
