A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…

The separating of this tree rather than another, was not from any thing properly in the tree, but from God's arbitrary pleasure. Possibly, yea likely it was one of the best and most inviting fruits, whence advantage might be taken in the Temptation: but it was God's will to forbid man the eating of it, and the reason was because he was pleased so to do, to try man. It was to assert his Lordship over man; and see how he would carry himself. (6.) THE Tempter by this gained advantage to insinuate into man a suspicion of God's good will to […]; in that he would restrain him from the use of this fruit: as is evident in the Temptation, Gen•. begin. He knew there was no hurt in the thing it self, God had no necessity […] hindering him, but it was his meet pleasure. The fruit was good; and he would •y a lye persuade him, it had more virtue in it than it had; and so his heart was leavened with jealousy. (7.) The malignity of this Sin lay in the rebellion of Adam's heart against the sovereignty of God in the prohibition. He entertained the arguments of the enemy, believed them, and was thereupon dissatisfied at the command, and so more eager in his desire to be tampering with it: and at length fully resolved in himself to reject this government of God over him: his Sin was because it was forbidden him, and yet he regarded it not, but would ear for all. (8.) THE Transgression it self was completed in his actual eating this fruit. He was begun to fall before, the first jealous thought entertained shook him; and his superior faculties were depraved before his eating, but the Sin was finished in his eating. For, 1. NOW his whole man had acted in it. All the faculties of his Soul, and powers of his Body were interested in it actually. His understanding had assented to it, his will had given it's consent, and made the choice and resolved upon it; his affections carried him forth, or spurred him on to it: his ear had received the false reports; his eye had been deluded by the fair show; his feet had carried him to it; his hand had taken it, and his mouth had tasted it. 2. NOW he had wholly shaken off the yoke of God's government, as far as in him lay. It is true, no creature can put it self altogether from under the government of God; (He will be above them, do they what they will:)

The separating of this tree rather than another, was not from any thing properly in the tree, but from God's arbitrary pleasure. Possibly, yea likely it was one of the best and most inviting fruits, whence advantage might be taken in the Temptation: but it was God's will to forbid man the eating of it, and the reason was because he was pleased so to do, to try man. It was to assert his Lordship over man; and see how he would carry himself. (6.) THE Tempter by this gained advantage to insinuate into man a suspection of God's good will to ; in that he would restrain him from the use of this fruit: as is evident in the Temptation, Gen. begin. He knew there was no hurt in the thing it self, God had no necessity hindring him, but it was his meet pleasure. The fruit was good; and he would y a lye perswade him, it had more vertue in it than it had; and so his heart was leavened with jealousy. (7.) The malignity of this Sin lay in the rebellion of Adam's heart against the sovereignty of God in the prohibition. He entertained the arguments of the enemy, believed them, and was thereupon dissatisfied at the command, and so more eager in his desire to be tampering with it: and at length fully resolved in himself to reject this government of God over him: his Sin was because it was forbidden him, and yet he regarded it not, but would ear for all. (8.) THE Transression it self was compleated in his actual eating this fruit. He was begun to fall before, the first jealous thought entertained shook him; and his superiour faculties were depraved before his eating, but the Sin was finished in his eating. For, 1. NOW his whole man had acted in it. All the faculties of his Soul, and powers of his Body were interested in it actually. His understanding had assented to it, his will had given it's consent, and made the choice and resolved upon it; his affections carried him forth, or spurred him on to it: his ear had received the false reports; his eye had been deluded by the fair shew; his feet had carried him to it; his hand had taken it, and his mouth had tasted it. 2. NOW he had wholly shaken off the yoke of God's government, as far as in him lay. It is true, no creature can put it self altogether from under the government of God; (He will be above them, do they what they will:)