Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

[…], Our natural stock is a killing stock. If the stock die, how can the branches live? If the sap be gone from the root and heart, the branches must needs wi•her. In Adam all die, 1 Cor. xv. 22. The root died in Paradise: and all the branches in it, and with it. The root is impoisoned, […] the branches come to be infected: death is in the pot; and all that taste of the pulse, or pottage are killed.

〈…〉, Our natural stock is a killing stock. If the stock die, how can the branches live? If the sap be gone from the root and heart, the branches must needs wi•her. In Adam all die, 1 Cor. xv. 22. The root died in Paradise: and all the branches in it, and with it. The root is impoisoned, 〈…〉 the branches come to be infected: death is in the pot; and all that taste of the pulse, or pottage are killed.

Know then, that every natural man is a branch of a killing stock. Our natural root not only gives us not life, but it has a killing power reaching all the branches thereof. There are four things, which the first Adam conveys to all his branches; and they are abiding in, and lying on, such of them as are not ingrafted to Christ. Fi•st. A corrupt nature. He sinned, and his nature was thereby corrupted or depraved; and this corruption is conveyed to all his posterity. He was infected and the contagion spread itself over all his seed. Secondly, Guilt, that is an obligation to punishment, Rom v. 21. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all m•n, for that all have sinned. The threatenings of the law, as cords of death, are twisted about the branches of the old stock; to draw them over the hedge into the fire. And till they be cut off from this stock by the pruning knife; the sword of vengeance hangs over their heads, to cut them down. Thirdly, This killing stock transmits the curse into the branches. The stock, as the stock, (for I speak not of Adam in his personal and private capacity) being cursed; so are the branches. Gal iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse This curse affects the whole man, and all that belongs to him, every thing he possesses; and worketh three ways. (1.) As poison, infecting thus their blessings are cursed, Mal ii. 2. Whatever the man enjoys, it can do him no good, but evil; being th impsoned