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

Fifthly, The difficulty that is acknowledged by ally, to do that which is good and holy, doth also manifest our propensity to what is evil. We cannot apply the Text to that which is good, and say, Man drinketh down that like water. The very Heathens could say, Facilis discensus averni, and Virtus in arduo sita est. Virtue was placed upon an high mountain, it was hard climbing up unto it, but it was easy to tumble down; it is easy to fall down the hill. Sin then being so easily committed, and that which is good so hardly performed, Doth not this speak plainly, that we are corrupted by nature? For certainly, if the word of God, neither in the threatenings or in the promises of it, can make us decline from evil, and do good, when neither hell can terrify us, nor the glorious joys of Heaven invite us; This argueth we are immovably fixed in a way of sinning. Is there any command for holy duties? Is there any Law enjoining us to leave our lusts, of which we do not say, It is an hard saying, who can bear it? Hence it is that the wisdom of the flesh is said to be enmity in the very abstract against God, Rom. 8. 7. the [Greek or Hebrew], whatsoever is either in mind or affections, is wholly opposite to the pure Law of God. So that this is an evident demonstration of mans vehement inclination to sin, that though God hath set so many fiery flaming swords in the way to stop us from sin; Though Heaven in the glory of it be on one side discovered, and hell in all the horrible and dreadful torments of it on the other side; Though many Ministers of God meet thee at the Angel did Balaam, to stop thee in the way to sin; yet for all this thou doest desperately and obstinately proceed. This maketh it appear, that there is a more flagrant appetite to sin, then to any thing else: like Rachel, crying, Give me children, else I die: so let me have my lusts satisfied, else no life, no condition is comfortable.

Fifthy, The difficulty that is acknowledged by ali, to do that which is good and holy, doth also manifest our propensity to what is evil. We cannot apply the Text to that which is good, and say, Man drinketh down that like water. The very Heathens could say, Facilis discensus averni, and Virtus in arduo sita est. Virtue was placed upon an high mountain, it was hard climbing up unto it, but it was easie to tumble down; it is easie to fall down the hill. Sinne then being so easily committed, and that which is good so hardly performed, Doth not this speak plainly, that we are corrupted by nature? For certainly, if the word of God, neither in the threatnings or in the promises of it, can make us decline from evil, and do good, when neither hell can terrifie us, nor the glorious joyes of Heaven invite us; This argueth we are immovably fixed in a way of sinning. Is there any command for holy duties? Is there any Law enjoyning us to leave our lusts, of which we do not say, It is an hard saying, who can bear it? Hence it is that the wisdome of the flesh is said to be enmity in the very abstract against God,