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

Hence also in the third place, when Adam sinned at first, it was not after the same manner, as we sin; for when we sin, this floweth from a corrupted nature within, Jam. 1. 17. Every one is tempted and drawn aside with the lust that is within him; But in Adam there was no such vicious principle. It is therefore a false and dangerous position of the Socinians, That we sin in the same manner that he did, That we have no more corrupted Nature in us, then he had, but as he had a free-will, by which he chose either good or evil, so it is with us. But this speaketh open defiance against the Scripture; For was Adam by nature the child of wrath? Were the imaginations of his thoughts only evil, and that continually? Could Adam say, He found a Law of sin in his Members, warring against the Law of his mind? Adam's sin therefore came from the mere mutability and changeableness that was in his will, there being no antecedent corruption in him: Insomuch that it hath greatly exercised learned Divines, to show ⟨p. 24⟩how Adam could sin, and wherein the imperfection did first break forth, he being made after the Image of God; but in us our sinfulness ariseth from a necessity contracted by the first voluntary transgression, and so have a corrupt nature which inclineth to all corrupt actions. Adam was in some sense a good Tree, and yet did bring forth bad Fruit, a sweet Fountain, and yet did send forth bitter Streams; Here we might say, a Vine brought forth Thorns, and a Fig Thistles; but we are bad Trees, poisoned Fountains, Briars and Thorns, only from the paralleling of our selves with Adam, we may conclude our incurableness, as also the danger we are in, by every temptation; For if Adam; though without any corrupt principle within him, though without the least spark of any lust, was yet so easily inflamed by a temptation; What may we expect who have the seed of all evil within us? If the green Ivy shall take fire so soon, what will the dry Tree do? Oh take heed of coming near any occasion of sin! As our Saviour said, Remember Lots wife, so do thou Adams wife, yea and Adam himself. These, though created holy, though without any lustful inclination, yet did presently yield to the temptations of sin, What then wilt not thou do? If Samson with his strength cannot resist the Philistines, much less, when that is gone, can he withstand them.

Hence also in the third place, when Adam sinned at first, it was not after the same manner, as we sinne; for when we sinne, this floweth from a corrupted nature within,