A77854:266
Vindiciæ legis
Vindiciæ legis: or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the errors of papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians. In XXIX. lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London. / By Anthony Burgess, preacher of Gods Word.Vindiciæ legis: or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the errours of papists, Arminians, Socinians, and more especially, Antinomians. In XXIX. lectures, preached at Laurence-Jury, London. / By Anthony Burgess, preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by James Young for Thomas Underhill, 1646
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Nor should this be thought so absurd, for even Aristotle saith, *that though men at first may choose, whether they will be wicked or no, yet if once habituated, they cannot but be evil: and yet for all that, this doth not excuse, but aggravate. If an Ethiopian can change his skin, saith the Prophet, then may you do good, who have accustomed your selves to do evil. The Oak, while it was a little plant, might be pulled up; but when it's grown into its full breadth and height, none can move it. Now if it be thus of an habit, how much more of original sin, which is the depravation of the nature? And howsoever Austin was shy of calling it naturale malum, for fear of the Manichees; yet sometimes he would ⟨p. 96⟩do it. Well therefore doth the Scripture use those sharp reproofs and upbraidings, because there is no man a sinner or a damner of himself, but it is by his own fault: and withal, these serve to be a goad and a sharp thorn in the sinners side, whereby he is made restless in his sin.
Nor should this be thought so absurd, for even Aristotle saith, *that though men at first may choose, whether they will be wicked or no, yet if once habituated, they cannot but be evill: and yet for all that, this doth not excuse, but aggravate. If an Ethiopian can change his skin, saith the Prophet, then may you doe good, who have accustomed your selves to doe evill. The Oake, while it was a little plant, might be pulled up; but when it's growne into its full breadth and height, none can move it. Now if it be thus of an habit, how much more of originall sin, which is the depravation of the nature? And howsoever Austin was shye of calling it naturale malum, for fear of the Manichees; yet sometimes he would ⟨p. 96⟩doe it. Well therefore doth the Scripture use those sharp reprofes and upbraidings, because there is no man a sinner or a damner of himselfe, but it is by his owne fault: and withall, these serve to be a goad and a sharp thorne in the sinners side, whereby he is made restlesse in his sin.
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