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

A second opinion of the Manichees, who feigned two principles of good and evil, and this evil principle they made the cause of man, whereupon they condemned marriage as unlawful, and made man to be opus Diaboli, the work of the Devil. This Manicheism the Pelagians have always endeavoured to fasten upon such as do affirm original sin, but it is done maliciously and ignorantly; for we say, this evil came not into man at first by nature, but by the free and voluntary consent of Adam, and since man is fallen, we do not say, sin is his nature, or his substance, but that it is a vicious quality adhering thereunto, as leprosy to the body.

A second opinion of the Manichees, who feigned two principles of good and evil, and this evil principle they made the cause of man, whereupon they condemned marriage as unlawfull, and made man to be opus Diaboli, the work of the Devil. This Manicheism the Pelagians have alwayes endeavoured to fasten upon such as do affirme original sinne, but it is done maliciously and ignorantly; for we say, this evil came not into man at first by nature, but by the free and voluntary consent of Adam, and since man is fallen, we do not say, sinne is his nature, or his substance, but that it is a vitious quality adhering thereunto, as leprosie to the body.

3. There are others, who may be reduced to the Manichees, and they were Heretics called Materiaris, who feigned an eternal matter, that was so evil, that the wisdom and power of God could not subdue it, but that this malignancy did adhere to it, whether God will or no. And this they make the cause of that vicious inclination in man: It is (say they) from the evil matter man is made off, which is inseparable from it; but this doth grossly contradict the History of the Creation, as recorded by Moses, Wherein it is said, God made every thing exceeding good, Gen. 1. 31.

3. There are others, who may be reduced to the Manichees, and they were Heretiques called Materiaris, who feigned an eternall matter, that was so evil, that the wisdome and power of God could not subdue it, but that this malignancy did adhere to it, whether God will or no. And this they make the cause of that vicious inclination in man: It is (say they) from the evil matter man is made off, which is inseperable from it; but this doth grosly contradict the History of the Creation, as recorded by Moses, Wherein it is said, God made every thing exceeding good,