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

Fifthly, This expression of uncleanness, doth denote our unfitness and unworthiness to come into Gods presence, or to perform any holy duty, no more than a person full of his vomit or loathsomeness, or a man with the noisome plague fores, is fit to come into the presence of a great King: As the legal unclean person, was not to come into the Temple, or to touch any holy things; And this was typified in Adam, when he was cast out of Paradise, and flaming swords set to keep him out, all this denoted, That God had excommunicated Adam, and (as it were) all mankind in him, so that now they have no fitness or decency, no worth or suitableness to any holy duty. And certainly, this should deeply humble us, yea at this our hearts should tremble and move out of their places, to consider, that though none need God more than we do, none have more need to pray incessantly to him, yet such is our pollution, that we are not fit to pray, or to draw nigh to God, yea, our duties, while performed by us, in this our original condition, are a provocation to God, and they become new sins; for if no clean thing can be brought out of an unclean, then no clean prayer, no clean holy duty can come from thee, who art unclean. It is true, though we are thus polluted, it is our duty to pray; by our original Apostasy we are not freed from Gods commands, we are bound to pray, and to pray with as holy and heavenly frame of heart, as Adam in his integrity, but though it be our duty, yet we have lost all power and ability: Yea, and besides this, there is an unfitness and unworthiness, even as when the frogs crept into Pharaoh's chamber: And to this Bernard alluded, when he called himself, Ranuncula repens in conspectu Dei, How dare such a loathsome frog as he, creep into the presence of so holy a God? Certainly, if the Angels, though without any such blemish, yea not having the least spot, do yet not cover their feet, but their faces, the noblest part (as it were) because of the glorious and holy Majesty of God, how much more must sinful and unclean man? Isa. 6. When the Prophet had beheld God in his glory, he crieth out, though a regenerated man, Woe be unto me, for I am of polluted lips! This made him afraid to make mention of God: How then may every natural corrupt man, cry out, Woe be to me, for I am not only a man of polluted lips, but also of a polluted mind and heart!

Fifthly, This expression of uncleanness, doth denote our unfitness and unworthiness to come into Gods presence, or to perform any holy duty, no more than a person full of his vomit or loathsomness, or a man with the noisom plague fores, is fit to come into the presence of a great King: As the legal unclean person, was not to come into the Temple, or to touch any holy things; And this was typified in Adam, when he was cast out of Paradise, and flaming swords set to keep him out, all this denoted, That God had excommunicated Adam, and (as it were) all mankind in him, so that now they have no fitness or decency, no worth or suitableness to any holy duty. And certainly, this should deeply humble us, yea at this our hearts should tremble and move out of their places, to consider, that though none need God more than we do, none have more need to pray incessantly to him, yet such is our pollution, that we are not fit to pray, or to draw nigh to God, yea, our duties, while performed by us, in this our original condition, are a provocation to God, and they become new sinnes; for if no clean thing can be brought out of an unclean, then no clean prayer, no clean holy duty can come from thee, who art unclean. It is true, though we are thus polluted, it is our duty to pray; by our original Apostasie we are not freed from Gods commands, we are bound to pray, and to pray with as holy and heavenly frame of heart, as Adam in his integrity, but though it be our duty, yet we have lost all power and ability: Yea, and besides this, there is an unfitness and unworthiness, even as when the frogs crept into Pharaoh's chamber: And to this Bernard aluded, when he called himself, Ranuncula repens in conspectu Dei, How dare such a loathsom frog as he, creep into the presence of so holy a God? Certainly, if the Angels, though without any such blemish, yea not having the least spot, do yet not cover their feet, but their faces, the noblest part (as it were) because of the glorious and holy Majesty of God, how much more must sinfull and unclean man?