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

If further it be objected, That it was not voluntary to Adam's posterity, their consents were to be expected.

To this it is easily answered, That seeing God had provided such a way for mankind, as was for their good, seeing the contrary good, and more also to that evil we are now fallen into, was intended for us in case of Adam's obedience, how silly is it to say, mans consent should be expected? Not to add further, that the holy wisdom of God ordering it thus, is enough to make us never to open our mouths more against this way; and as for the involuntariness of this sin, we have several times spoken to that, It was voluntary as far as the nature of such a sin did require, even as habitual sins are not voluntary, as actual are, but are as far as habitual ones do require. It was voluntary effectivè; This sin did not arise from the nature or matter of man necessarily, as the Materiarii and other Heretics taught, but by the voluntary transgression of Adam; It is also voluntary subjectivè, for this corruption is chiefly seated in the will, which ruleth the whole man; and it is voluntary consecntivè by consequent, for man naturally delighteth in this evil estate, and till grace make a change we are not weary of this condition. It is true, this subsequent will whereby we delight in our original pollution, doth not properly make original sin to be ours, for this is an actual sin, and floweth from that better root, only it showeth that this evil estate is so far from being contrary to mans will naturally, that it delighteth in it, and doth contumaciously rebel against the grace of Christ that would deliver.

To this it is easily answered, That seeing God had provided such a way for mankind, as was for their good, seeing the contrary good, and more also to that evil we are now fallen into, was intended for us in case of Adam's obedience, how silly is it to say, mans consent should be expected? Not to adde further, that the holy wisdom of God ordering it thus, is enough to make us never to open our mouths more against this way; and as for the involuntarinesse of this sinne, we have several times spoken to that, It was voluntary as farre as the nature of such a sinne did require, even as habitual sinnes are not voluntary, as actual are, but are as farre as habitual ones do require. It was voluntary effectivè; This sinne did not arise from the nature or matter of man necessarily, as the Materiarii and other Heretiques taught, but by the voluntary transgression of Adam; It is also voluntary subjectivè, for this corruption is chiefly seated in the will, which ruleth the whole man; and it is voluntary consecntivè by consequent, for man naturally delighteth in this evil estate, and till grace make a change we are not weary of this condition. It is true, this subsequent will whereby we delight in our original pollution, doth not properly make original sinne to be ours, for this is an actual sinne, and floweth from that better root, only it sheweth that this evil estate is so farre from being contrary to mans will naturally, that it delighteth in it, and doth contumaciously rebell against the grace of Christ that would deliver.