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

Was it that he was of necessity detained in such a servitude of sin? Certainly, I cannot believe such a thing; and thereupon gave thanks to God, for the light shining upon him, and freeing him from his error, and afterwards entered upon a contrary way of explaining it to the amazement of his own party. But it had been well, if this writer had set down the reasons which made such a change in that man.

Was it that he was of necessity detained in such a servitude of sinne? Certainly, I cannot believe such a thing; and thereupon gave thanks to God, for the light shining upon him, and freeing him from his errour, and afterwards entred upon a contrary way of explaining it to the amazement of his own party. But it had been well, if this writer had set down the reasons which made such a change in that man.

Thirdly, We cannot say it is heresy and an error in fundamentals, to expound this place of an unregenerate person; yet as the grounds and reasons may be, such an exposition may be either heretical, or bordering thereupon. For there are two principles, which may be supposed, upon which the Exposition of this Discourse concerning an unregenerate person may be built; for either some will not understand it of a regenerate person, Because they think it opposeth perfection in this life, whereas they think a man may and ought to be altogether pure and without sin in this life; or else they do acknowledge the imperfection of out regeneration, and the relics of original sin abiding in us, whereby we are not able to answer the purity and holiness of the Law: Only they think this is not a proper place to prove such a truth, but is rather injurious to the grace of God working in believers. And in the number of these later Arminius doth acknowledge himself: Now if such men be real in what they say, and do not secretly nourish some monster within, till they have a fit time to bring it forth, they are not much to be blamed. For as long as they agree in the true Doctrine, though they differ in the Texts, that do prove it, that is not so material. Certainly Calvin was most unjustly traduced by Hunnius the Lutheran, for Judaizing and denying the Trinity; yet he did not think that Doctrine was to be proved out of every Text, that the Ancients did make use of. But then to deny the exposition of this place concerning a regenerate person, Because they hold perfection in this life, and an immunity from sin, for which end the Pelagians of old did seem to oppose it; yea and that this perfection was to be obtained by our own free-will, this may justly be looked upon as heretical, Upon which account Castalio is inexcusable, for he interpreteth it of an unregenerate man, only subject to the Law, merely to establish perfection; affirming, that the old man is wholly crucified in this life, denying Christs imputed righteousness, and affirming men may be without sinne. (De Justific. pag. 67. & frequenter alibi.) This is certain that the true Exposition of this place doth powerfully overthrow the Doctrine of perfection in this life: For if a Paul doth find this civil war within himself;