1Thirdly, It is appointed unto every Man to undergo this first Death. It is decreed and ordained by God, and that not upon the Account of any natural Necessity; but for the Punishment of Sin. The Apostle tells us plainly, That by Sin Death entered into the World. Death therefore is not so much a Debt due to Nature, as a Debt due to the avenging Justice of God; for though Man at first was created in pure Nature, yet was he also created in a deathless State; and Death seizeth upon us, not as we are Men, but as we are Sinners, liable to the Curse of the Covenant of Works, containing in it that Threatening, In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. It is true, Adam, even before he sinned, had in him the contemperation of the same contrary Qualities that we now have; and so, at least, had also the remote Principles of Death; but yet it is probable that he was created ⟨p. 9⟩with such a Privilege, that he might by his own Will sway and over-rule the Jars and Discords of his elementary constitution, and continue himself in Life as long as he should continue himself in Obedience; however, whether it was so, or otherwise, yet certain it is that Death came into the World as the punishment of Sin: So then it is not primarily Man's Nature, but Man's Sin, and the Curse of the Law taking hold of him, that brought in this necessity of dying. Sin is not only the Sting, but the Cause of Death; and it gives it not only its Terror, but its very Being also. And therefore it is somewhat remarkable, that among all the Creatures in the World, Man only is termed Mortal; most certain it is that other Creatures decay and perish as well as he; yet among all perishing things, Man only hath that wretched denomination of being Mortal; and there is good reason for it, since he alone, of all perishing things, being created immortal, voluntarily subjected himself unto Death, and by his own Fault brought upon himself that Name of Mortal, as a Brand of perpetual Infamy.
1Thirdly, It is appointed unto every Man to undergo this first Death. It is decreed and ordained by God, and that not upon the Account of any natural Necessity; but for the Punishment of Sin. The Apostle tells us plainly, That by Sin Death entred into the World. Death therefore is not so much a Debt due to Nature, as a Debt due to the avenging Justice of God; for though Man at first was created in pure Nature, yet was he also created in a deathless State; and Death siezeth upon us, not as we are Men, but as we are Sinners, liable to the Curse of the Covenant of Works, containing in it that Threatning, In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. It is true, Adam, even before he sinned, had in him the contemperation of the same contrary Qualities that we now have; and so, at least, had also the remote Principles of Death; but yet it is probable that he was created ⟨p. 9⟩with such a Priviledge, that he might by his own Will sway and over-rule the Jars and Discords of his elementary constitution, and continue himself in Life as long as he should continue himself in Obedience; however, whether it was so, or otherwise, yet certain it is that Death came into the World as the punishment of Sin: So then it is not primarily Man's Nature, but Man's Sin, and the Curse of the Law taking hold of him, that brought in this necessity of dying. Sin is not only the Sting, but the Cause of Death; and it gives it not only its Terrour, but its very Being also. And therefore it is somewhat remarkable, that among all the Creatures in the World, Man only is termed Mortal; most certain it is that other Creatures decay and perish as well as he; yet among all perishing things, Man only hath that wretched denomination of being Mortal; and there is good reason for it, since he alone, of all perishing things, being created immortal, voluntarily subjected himself unto Death, and by his own Fault brought upon himself that Name of Mortal, as a Brand of perpetual Infamy.
- 1All Men must die, because Death is the punishment of Sin.
