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

SECT. III.

Original Sin compared to a Law in five respects.

Original Sinne compared to a Law in five respects.

Original sin therefore may be compared to a Law, in these respects:

ORiginal sinne therefore may be compared to a Law, in these respects:

First, A Law doth teach and direct, Lex est lux, It informeth and teacheth what is to be done. Thus the Schoolmen, they make Direction the first thing necessary to a Law; The work of grace in a godly man, is called by the Apostle, The Law of the mind, in this Chapter; Because grace within a man doth teach and direct him what to do; Hence 1 John 2. 27. the godly man is said to have an anointing within him; The Law of God is written in his inward parts, and so from within, as well as by the Word without, they are taught what to do: Thus on the contrary the Law of sin in a natural man, doth teach and prompt him to all kind of evil; This Law of sin doth not indeed teach what we ought to do, but it doth wonderfully suggest all kind of wickedness to us; and from this cause it is, that you see children no sooner able to act, but they can with all readiness run into evil; sins that they have not seen committed before their eyes, they can with much dexterity accomplish: What a deal of instruction and admonition is requisite to nurture your young ones in the fear of the Lord? And all is little enough, And why is this? The Law of God is not in their hearts, they have not that in them, which would direct and teach holiness; But on the other side, children need not to be taught wickedness, you need not instruct them how to sin, they have much artifice and cunning in an evil way, And why so? The Law of sin is in them, this is that they are bred with: So that as the young ones of Foxes and Serpents, though they have no teacher, yet from the Law of nature within them, they grow subtle and crafty in their mischievous ways: Thus the Law of sin doth in every man, he is ingenious and wise to do evil. As the ground ere it will bring forth corn doth need much labour and tillage, but of it self bringeth forth briars and thorns: Thus all by nature are so foolish and blind, that without heavenly education and institution you cannot bring them to that which is holy, but of their own selves, men have subtlety and abilities to frame mischievous things: And why is all this? They have a Law of sin within them, which directs, suggests and informeth to do much evil: So that we are not to put all upon the Devil, to say, He put it into my mind, he suggested such thoughts to me; No, the Law of sin within thee, can sufficiently prompt thee to all evil.