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

Object. Lastly, They object, It must be understood of actual sins, for the Apostle spoke of such before, and to be a son of a thing denoteth the quality inherent in a man, as given to such a way; so in the former verse the Children of disobedience, that is, those who voluntarily give themselves to such rebellion.

Object. Lastly, They object, It must be understood of actual sins, for the Apostle spoke of such before, and to be a sonne of a thing denoteth the quality inherent in a man, as given to such a way; so in the former verse the Children of disobedience, that is, those who voluntarily give themselves to such rebellion.

Answ. But to this it is answered, That in the former expression is not the word [Greek or Hebrew]: So that the Apostle doth here lay the Axe to the root of the Tree; and because the Jews might be thought by the privileges they enjoyed as soon as born to excel the Gentiles; Therefore he demonstrateth the Fountain and Well-head of their iniquity, though secret and under-ground, as springs are usually very difficultly discovered.

Answ. But to this it is answered, That in the former expression is not the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: So that the Apostle doth here lay the Ax to the root of the Tree; and because the Jews might be thought by the priviledges they enjoyed as soon as born to excell the Gentiles; Therefore he demonstrateth the Fountain and Well-head of their iniquity, though secret and under-ground, as springs are usually very difficultly discovered.

Besides, We will readily grant, That this expression doth denote an habitual inclination to all actual evil, and that the Apostle mentioneth it as the curse and bitter root of all the actual impieties that are committed in the world; so that there is a reference to actual sins, but in the cause of them, which is this original pollution.