14. There is a great difference between original sin, and actuals; for that of original is much more perplexed in the matter of remission, then those of actuals; when an actual sin is committed, the act is transient, that is, quickly passed away, there remaineth only the guilt, which sticketh, till God by pardon doth remove it, and then when he hath forgiven it, there is all of that sin past. But now in original sin it is otherwise; for that corruption adhering to us, cleaving to our nature, like Ivy to the tree (as the Father expresseth it) though it be forgiven, yet it still continueth, and that not only as an exercise of our faith and prayers, or by way of a penal languor upon us, but truly and formally a sin, so that its both a sin, and the cause of sin, and the effect of sin at the same time. Now in this particular lieth the greatest part of the difficulty, in the doctrine of forgiveness of sin, for here sin is in the godly, and truly so, yet for all that it doth not condemn. The Papists finding by experience such motions of original sin in us, yet do say, they are only penal effects, and remain as opportunities by spiritual combat to increase the Crown of glory: and this they urge as impossible they should be sins, and yet not condemn the godly, because guilt is inseparable from sin. And the Antinomian doth expressly stumble at this stone; Dr Crisps Serm. vol. 2. p. 92. For my part (saith he) I do not think as some do, that guilt differs from sin, but that it is sin it self: They are but two words expressing the same thing. Now if it were so, that sin and guilt, or the ordination of it to punishment were the same thing, there could be no sin in the godly. It is true, guilt cannot be but where sin hath been, ⟨p. 21⟩yet guilt of punishment may be removed, when the sin is past. But this the Author doth show, that sin was so laid on Christ, that from that time he ceaseth to be a sinner any more. Thou art not a Thief, a Murderer, when as you have part in Christ, p. 89. ut supra. But of this hereafter.
14. There is a great difference between original sin, and actuals; for that of original is much more perplexed in the matter of remission, then those of actuals; when an actual sin is committed, the act is transient, that is, quickly passed away, there remaineth only the guilt, which sticketh, till God by pardon doth remove it, and then when he hath forgiven it, there is all of that sin past. But now in original sin it is otherwise; for that corruption adhering to us, cleaving to our nature, like Ivie to the tree (as the Father expresseth it) though it be forgiven, yet it still continueth, and that not only as an exercise of our faith and prayers, or by way of a penal langu•r upon us, but truly and formally a sin, so that its both a sin, and the cause of sin, and the effect of sin at the same time. Now in this particular lieth the greatest part of the difficulty, in the doctrine of forgivenes of sin, for here sin is in the godly, and truly so, yet for all that it doth not condemn. The Papists finding by experience such motions of original sin in us, yet do say, they are only penal effects, and remain as opportunities by spiritual combate to increase the Crown of glory: and this they urge as impossible they should be sins, and yet not condemn the godly, because guilt is inseparable from sin. And the Antinomian doth expresly stumble at this stone; Dr Crisps Serm. vol. 2. p. 92. For my part (saith he) I do not think as some do, that guilt differs from sin, but that it is sin it self: They are but two words expressing the same thing. Now if it were so, that sin and guilt, or the ordination of it to punishment were the same thing, there could be no sin in the godly. It is true, guilt cannot be but where sin hath been, ⟨p. 21⟩yet guilt of punishment may be removed, when the sin is past. But this the Author doth shew, that sin was so laid on Christ, that from that time he ceaseth to be a sinner any more. Thou art not a Thief, a Murderer, when as you have part in Christ, p. 89. ut supra. But of this hereafter.
- 14. There is great difference between original and actual sin.
