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

1. They themselves do acknowledge, that sin consented unto, lusts yielded unto, though in the heart only, are truly and properly sins; that those are damnable, though never actually committed; whereas this Text, if they rigidly urge it, would prove as well, that such lusts are not sin.

1. They themselves do acknowledge, that sinne consented unto, lusts yeelded unto, though in the heart only, are truly and properly sinnes; that those are damnable, though never actually committed; whereas this Text, if they rigidly urge it, would prove as well, that such lusts are not sin.

Besides, Though the Apostle James doth not here call such motions sins, yet Paul, Rom. 7. doth very often give them that name, and accounteth himself miserable, in respect of his captivity to them, though he doth utterly disallow them. Therefore the Answer is, That the Apostle taketh sin here strictly, for only actual sin, because this is only visible to the eyes of the world: and because though motions consented unto, yea and unconsented unto, are truly and proper sins, yet because these are in a tendency to actual sins; actual sin is the terminus ad quem, as it were; they are not fully completed in the utmost of their iniquity, till actually committed. No wonder if that be called only sin, not by way of exclusion to the motions within, but by way of aggravation; to show that then sin when its actuated hath gone to its utmost.

Besides, Though the Apostle James doth not here call such motions sinnes, yet Paul, Rom. 7. doth very often give them that name, and accounteth himself miserable, in respect of his captivity to them, though he doth utterly disallow them. Therefore the Answer is, That the Apostle taketh sinne here strictly, for only actual sinne, because this is onely visible to the eyes of the world: and because though motions consented unto, yea and unconsented unto, are truly and proper sinnes, yet because these are in a tendency to actual sinnes; actual sinne is the terminus ad quem, as it were; they are not fully compleated in the utmost of their iniquity, till actually committed. No wonder if that be called only sinne, not by way of exclusion to the motions within, but by way of aggravation; to shew that then sinne when its actuated hath gone to its utmost.