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

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.

The fundamental cause therefore of the necessity of Regeneration is from that universal Proposition laid down in the Text, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, which is also illustrated by the contrary, That which is born of the Spirit is spirit; The strength of the Argument lieth in this, Every thing resembleth that it is produced of; from a Serpent, there cometh a Serpent; from a Toad, a Toad; so from a Dove, a Dove; a Sheep, a Lamb; There being therefore two contrary effective principles in us, The flesh and the Spirit; The flesh, that produceth what is flesh, the Spirit, what is spirit.

In the first Proposition, we have the emphatical expression of this defilement: