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

You cannot go from house to house, from Town to Town, from company to company, but you may see the effects and actings of original sin: If you say, It's mens actual sins and custom therein, that makes them so vile; It is true; But still we ask, Whence came the custom? Whence came they to have those actings? Certainly, those streams could not have been polluted, if the fountain had not been; and if original sin did not infect our natures, why should not men generally as well act that which is good, and obtain a custom in that which is commendable? Therefore experience, thy eyes, thy ears, may convince thee of this bodily sin.

You cannot go from house to house, from Town to Town, from company to company, but you may see the effects and actings of original sinne: If you say, It's mens actual sins and custom therein, that makes them so vile; It is true; But still we ask, Whence came the custom? Whence came they to have those actings? Certainly, those streams could not have been polluted, if the fountain had not been; and if original sinne did not infect our natures, why should not men generally as well act that which is good, and obtain a custom in that which is commendable? Therefore experience, thy eyes, thy ears, may convince thee of this bodily sinne.

Secondly, The Apostle calleth it a Body, to answer those other expressions that he useth about it, for he often calleth upon us to mortify, to kill, to crucify this original sin: Now to mortify and crucify are properly relating to a Body, we do not say properly accidents, or qualities are crucified. To make therefore the expression harmonious, he calleth it a Body; Howsoever therefore it is with our natural body, that no man ever yet hated his own flesh, we are to nourish and cherish that, and it would be murder to mortify that body, yet this Body of sin is to be kept under, we are not to spare it, but by the Spirit of God to be constantly crucifying of it; neither let that discourage thee, because (as you heard) this will be painful and grievous to flesh and blood; for you must conclude upon this, ⟨p. 108⟩That the way to Heaven is narrow and straight, there must be constant violence and opposition to all natural inclinations: Every godly man may well be called a Martyr, for though he may feel no pain in the killing of his natural body, yet he must and will feel much exercise in killing the body of sin, but better endure some grief here, than eternal torments hereafter. Our Saviour speaks to this twice, as it's mentioned by the Evangelist Matthew, Chap. 5. 30 & 18. 3. It is better (saith he) to go halt and blind into life, than with two hands and eyes to be cast into everlasting fire: Think then, whether will be more burdensome to leave the pleasures of sin here, or hereafter to be tormented to all eternity.