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

2. He that would not dangerously err in this necessary point, he must mortify self-love, he must above all things take breed of a self-righteousness and self-admiration: For our corruption herein, is, that which maketh us to judge every thing unjust in God that is not pleasing to us; we will rather naturally accuse God a thousand times over, then accuse or condemn our selves; As the love of God had supreme dominion in Adam's heart while in the state of integrity, so in man fallen on the contrary, self-love is that which keepeth the principality in our souls; so that whatsoever we now love, it is because we love our selves; Why doth the covetous man love wealth, but because he loveth himself? Why doth the ambitious man honours, the voluptuous man pleasures, but because he loveth himself? yea this extends to God also, we love nothing of God, but for our selves, as if God were for us, not we for God; Hence it is that we would have a god like us; we make an Idol-god in our hearts instead of the true God; That which God chargeth upon some sinners, Psal. 50. 21. is true of all by nature, Thou thoughtest I was such an one as thy self; now this is the rotten core in every mans heart; we think God to be like our selves, to do as we would have him do, and therefore we make that injustice in him, which we would not have him do; No wonder then, if men be generally so averse to this Truth about original sin, for how can a man be naturally willing that this should be true, I am born in a state of sin, I am by nature a child of wrath? Can such a bitter pill as this be easily swallowed down? how stiffly will men dispute and cavil ere they will be convinced of this? Deformed faces are not willing to look in this glass: Therefore it is a good similitude which Cortesius the Schoolman (2. Sentent. distinc. 7. pag. 48. who affecteth to turn all School-language into a polite flile,) useth concerning Pelagians denying original sin, he compareth them to Dogs that cannot endure the halter they are tied by, and therefore all their endeavour is to gnaw the cord in pieces, that they may run loose, Thus (saith he) do these corrupt Doctors, they are unwilling to be bound in this chain: No man can endure this cord, whereby folly is bound up in his heart, and therefore they strive to tear it in pieces;

2. He that would not dangerously erre in this necessary point, he must mortifie selflove, he must above all things take breed of a self-righteousness and self-admiration: For our corruption herein, is, that which maketh us to judge every thing unjust in God that is not pleasing to us; we will rather naturally accuse God a thousand times over, then accuse or condemne our selves; As the love of God had supreme dominion in Adam's heart while in the state of integrity, so in man fallen on the contrary, self-love is that which keepeth the principality in our souls; so that whatsoever we now love, it is because we love our selves; Why doth the covetous man love wealth, but because he loveth himself? Why doth the ambitious man honours, the voluptuous man pleasures, but because he loveth himself? yea this extends to God also, we love nothing of God, but for our selves, as if God were for us, not we for God; Hence it is that we would have a god like us; we make an Idol-god in our hearts instead of the true God; That which God chargeth upon some sinners,