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

Come we therefore to a second demonstration of the Naturality of this evil, and that is seen, In that it is the inward principle of all the sinful motions of the soul, and that per•se, not per accidens. This is a great part of that definition, which Aristotle giveth of Nature, now we may in a moral sense apply it to our purpose.

Come we therefore to a second demonstration of the Naturality of this evil, and that is seen, In that it is the inward principle of all the sinfull motions of the soul, and that per•se, not per accidens. This is a great part of that definition, which Aristotle giveth of Nature, now we may in a moral sense apply it to our purpose.

First, I say, It's the inward principle of all the sinful motions, and workings of the Soul. For as the nature of the stone is the cause of its motion downward, as the nature of the fire is the cause of the fires motions and operations: Thus is original sin the intrinsical cause, and root of all the actual evil we are guilty of. It is far from me to justify Flacius his discourse or opinion of original sin, making it the natural substance of a man, and not an accident, though he so ⟨p. 15⟩expresseth himself, that some think its his Logical and Metaphysical error, rather than Theological: Only that which I aim at, is to show, That this birth-sin, is naturally ours, because from it doth flow all the sinful and evil operations of the whole man; So that we may say, as it is natural to the stone to descend, to the sparks to fly upwards, so it is natural to man to think evil, to speak evil, and to do evil. Aristotle observeth (Lib. 2. Ethic. cap. 1.) this, as one property of things by nature, that there the principles are before the actions; A man hath the power to see, or hear before he can actually do either, but in moral things, the actions are before the habits. As it is natural to the Toad to vent poison, and not honey; so when a man sinneth, it's from his own, it's natural to him, but when enabled to do any thing that is good, this is wholly of grace: Now, I say, It's an inward principle of all sin within us, to distinguish it from external cause, viz. the devil or wicked men, who sometimes may tempt and cause to sin; Therefore the devil is called The tempter,