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

They would gladly believe there is no such thing, but the Scripture-truth will abide firm, whether thou believest it or not; Thou art by nature in an undone and a damnable estate, ⟨p. 427⟩whether thou will be persuaded of it or no. Therefore

They would gladly believe there is no such thing, but the Scripture-truth will abide firme, whether thou believest it or not; Thou art by nature in an undone and a damnable estate, ⟨p. 427⟩whether thou will be perswaded of it or no. Therefore

In the third place, Seeing this Doctrine of original sin and Gods proceedings therein are principally made known to us by Scripture-revelation; It is our wisdom to keep close to what is written, and not to give way to such curious Disputations that will never have an end: If so be the disciples of Plato would silence themselves with this, [Greek or Hebrew], here Plato doth command us to stay, to rest and dispute no further; if (I say) this would immediately stop their mouths, how much more should the command of God and Christ, when we can say, here Christ hath commanded us to enquire no further? It is not therefore with divine truths, as it is with philosophical, for with the latter, though we know Aristotle saith so, yet we may enquire into the truth of it, but in Theological things, if it appear God hath said this, then we must not judge but believe; so that it is a learned ignorance, when we affect not to know above what is written. It is a good resolution of Luther's, (In cup. Genes. 6.) I follow (saith he) always this rule, that I may avoid those Questions which may draw me up to the throne of Gods supreme Majesty; Melius & tutius est ad praesepe Christ hominis consistere; It is better and safer to stand at the manager of Christ as man; For this end we have Elihu and God himself at last humbling Job, who had disputed the righteous proceedings of God too presumptuously, by the consideration of Gods transcendent greatness to mans capacity, yea by these natural things, convincing him of his infirmity which we see very day as the rain and thunder, &c. Now certainly if we cannot behold a star much less the Sun; if we cannot find out the reason of Gods proceedings in natural things, how much more in supernatural. Therefore