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

¶. 4.

The several Ways whereby Original Sin doth hinder the godly in their Religious Progress, whereby they are sinful and imperfect.

The several Wayes whereby Original Sinne doth hinder the godly in their Religious Progress, whereby they are sinful and imperfect.

The next Proposition in order is, That this flesh, this original sin in a man doth several ways hinder the godly in their religious progress, whereby they are sinful and imperfect, whereby every one is forced to cry out, as he; O me nunquam sapientem! so, O me nunquam pium! Oh me never godly, never believing, never answering the holy Law of God! This treacherous enemy within us is so multiforme, putteth it self Chameleon-like into so many shapes, that the most holy men have cause to be always on their guard, to keep continual watch, lest sometime or other this Delilah betray them into the hands of the Philistines. How were it possible that some eminent servants of God, as David and Peter, have fallen so grievously, and committed such sins which some Heathens by the light of nature would have abhorred? but that there is this fuel and spawn of sin abiding in every regenerate person. It may well be affirmed, that the reliquiae peccati originalis; the relics of original sin are in the most holy: for as when an house hath been for the greatest part consumed, but at last the fire is quenched, yet there remains some little sparks and embers, which cause a constant watch, lest they kindle and consume whatsoever is left yet undestroyed: Such care and fear ought the godly to have, lest the remaining corruption break out suddenly, and so destroy them.

THe next Proposition in order is, That this flesh, this original sinne in a man doth several wayes hinder the godly in their religious progress, whereby they are sinful and imperfect, whereby every one is forced to cry out, as he; O me nunquam sapientem! so, O me nunquam pium! Oh me never godly, never believing, never answering the holy Law of God! This treacherous enemy within us is so multiforme, putteth it self Chamelion-like into so many shapes, that the most holy men have cause to be alwayes on their guard, to keep continual watch, lest sometime or other this Daliah betray them into the hands of the Philistines. How were it possible that some eminent servants of God, as David and Peter, have fallen so grievously, and committed such sinnes which some Heathens by the light of nature would have abhorred? but that there is this fuel and spawn of sinne abiding in every regenerate person. It may well be affirmed, that the reliquiae peccati originalis; the reliques of original sinne are in the most holy: for as when an house hath been for the greatest part consumed, but at last the fire is quenched, yet there remains some little sparks and embers, which cause a constant watch, lest they kindle and consume whatsoever is left yet undestroyed: Such care and fear ought the godly to have, lest the remaining corruption break out suddainly, and so destroy them.