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

Lastly, The great cause why Nicodemus did not know what Regeneration was, or see the necessary of it, was, Because of his blindness about original sin: Had he believed how carnal and sinful every one was born, he would presently have bewailed his condition, and said, O Lord, it is true, I am all over polluted, I find nothing of thy Spirit in me, I am all over flesh, and do therefore need thy Spirit to regenerate and quicken me! But this was the root of his destruction, ⟨p. 137⟩from hence did arise that gross miscarriage about a new-birth, because was so senseless and unacquainted with the pollution he was born in.

Lastly, The great cause why Nicodemus did not know what Regeneration was, or see the necessary of it, was, Because of his blindnesse about original sinne: Had he believed how carnal and sinfull every one was born, he would presently have bewailed his condition, and said, O Lord, it is true, I am all over polluted, I find nothing of thy Spirit in me, I am all over flesh, and do therefore need thy Spirit to regenerate and quicken me! But this was the root of his destruction, ⟨p. 137⟩from hence did arise that gross miscarriage about a new-birth, because was so sensless and unacquainted with the pollution he was born in.

So that the Text is an Argument to prove the Doctrine of Regeneration, and the necessity of it, which Nicodemus did so carnally cavil against: For although our Saviour did so vehemently assert the truth of it in these expressions, twice geminated, Verily, verily, I say into thee, &c. Yet because Nicodemus still asketh, How can this be? therefore our Saviour discovereth to him the root and fundamental cause of the necessity of this birth, and that not of Nicodemus only, but of every man; Therefore he speaks generally, Unless a man be borne again, &c.

So that the Text is an Argument to prove the Doctrine of Regeneration, and the necessity of it, which Nicodemus did so carnally cavil against: For although our Saviour did so vehemently assert the truth of it in these expressions, twice geminated, Verily, verily, I say into thee, &c. Yet because Nicodemus still asketh, How can this be? therefore our Saviour discovereth to him the root and fundamental cause of the necessity of this birth, and that not of Nicodemus only, but of every man; Therefore he speaks generally, Vnlesse a man be borne again, &c.