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

First, All such who do absolutely deny any such thing, they must needs acknowledge all such confessions to be lies and falsehoods, that it is but taking of Gods name in vain, when we confess such a thing by our selves, if it be not indeed in us: For if Adam should have said, Behold, God created me in iniquity, and formed me in sin, would not this have been horrible lying to God, and blaspheming of his Name? No less is it; If their Position be true, That we are born in the same condition and estate that Adam was created in, derogatory to God, and a bold presumptuous lie, for men in their prayers to acknowledge such a sin dwelling in them, when indeed it doth not; So then, if this be true, That we are not born in original sin, then David doth in this penitential Psalm, fearfully abuse the Name of God, speaking that which is a lie, and a most abominable untruth; But whose fore-head is so hardened, as to affirm this? Yet all such who deny there is any birth-sin, they must also say, there is no confession to be made of it, neither are we to humble our selves because of it.

First, All such who do absolutely deny any such thing, they must needs acknowledge all such confessions to be lies and falshoods, that it is but taking of Gods name in vain, when we confess such a thing by our selves, if it be not indeed in us: For if Adam should have said, Behold, God created me in iniquity, and formed me in sinne, would not this have been horrible lying to God, and blaspheming of his Name? No less is it; If their Position be true, That we are born in the same condition and estate that Adam was created in, derogatory to God, and a bold presumptuous lie, for men in their prayers to acknowledge such a sinne dwelling in them, when indeed it doth not; So then, if this be true, That we are not born in original sinne, then David doth in this penitential Psalm, fearfully abuse the Name of God, speaking that which is a lie, and a most abominable untruth; But whose fore-head is so hardned, as to affirm this? Yet all such who deny there is any birth-sinne, they must also say, there is no confession to be made of it, neither are we to humble our selves because of it.

Secondly, Others there are, that though they hold it to be a sin, yet (they say) it was absolutely forgiven in Baptism; and if it was then totally forgiven, what necessity is thereof confession and acknowledging it afterwards? That original sin was forgiven to all that were baptized, was the opinion of Austin, who yet did more earnestly propugn this Doctrine of original sin, than any of the Fathers: Yea in his time, these two seemed to be Catholic Doctrines of the whole Church, viz. an universal efficacy of Baptism in all Infants baptized, to purge away original sin, as also the necessity of damnation of those Infants which died without it. The Papists also, they generally conclude, That this original sin is forgiven to all baptized persons; and Socinus in his Exposition of this place, approveth this Position, That it is not to be confessed; Yea, it cannot be denied, but that some learned Protestants, adversaries both to Papists and Arminians, as Davenant, Ward, have affirmed also, That all baptized persons have their original sin forgiven them, and so dying in their infancy, must without doubt be saved.