is, in this last age questioned, why his meritorious satisfaction for the sins of the world is by some flatly denied, is, because the parties this way peccant, or such as can with Christian patience or without disgust, read or hear their discourses, do not know themselves either in the individual, as they are mortal men, and tainted with many actual sins, or in the general, as they are the sons of Adam. They understand not the prerogatives that man had in his first creation above other creatures; nor yet trouble their thoughts how that which they and we call sin found first entrance into the world; how it hath been propagated throughout all mankind; or what be the special properties, the true effects, or power of it. Now without the knowledge or serious consideration of all these points, it is impossible for us, for any man, to take a true, much less a full or competent estimate of Christ's sufferings upon the cross; or of the efficacy of his resurrection from the dead; of the fruits of the Spirit, which he promised to all his followers, upon his ascension into heaven, and sitting at the right hand of God the Father. Of the first Man's Estate, and the Manner how he lost it. How Sin found Entrance into the World. Of the Nature of Sin. How it was, and is, propagated unto Adam's Posterity. More contention than contradiction СНА Р. І. Of the primeval Estate of the first Man, and of the Variety of Opinions about it. 1. ABOUT the prerogatives or preeminences of the first man, over and above all others, which by natural about the descent have sprung from him, a great variety of first man's opinions there is, more than is about the limitation or estate. extent of the prerogative royal in most kingdoms Christian, as now they stand. But the several opinions contained within this great and spacious variety, concerning the estate or prerogatives of the first man, are (in my opinion) very compatible: few or none of them contradict others. And it is the part of divines by profession, not to sow any seeds of contention between the authors or abettors of several opinions, which in their nature imply no contradiction. Yea in times ancient and unpartial, it hath been accounted one special part of priests or professed divines, to solicit or mediate for compromise between parties at difference, whether in matters civil or criminally capital; much more to endeavour for reconciliation of opinions or controversies properly belonging to their own profession. 2. Now it is confessed by all good Christians, that the first man was made in or according to the image of God which made him. But wherein this image of God, or the live copy of it exhibited in the first man, did properly or chiefly consist, is a problem wherein many good writers, both ancient and modern, do somewhat vary. Some would have the prerogatives, which did result from the likeness of God imprinted upon the first man, to consist principally in that power or dominion which he had over all other visible or sublunary creatures. But though it be true of these present times as it was of former, that dominium non fundatur in fide, id est, kings and supreme governors have their right of dominion over their subjects or inferiors, albeit such kings and governors have not at any time been true Christians, or have degenerated from such Christian faith as they have sometimes professed or maintained; yet without all controversy, that sovereignty or dominion which the first man had over all other visible creatures, was founded upon that integrity of soul, or righteousness inherent, which he lost. Since the first man and his successors became corrupt in all their ways, that primeval dominion which the first man had, did cease by degrees to be so entire as once it was: nor is there any hope to have it fully restored unto any sovereignty, or private members of any sovereignty or kingdom in this life: nor are all they, which well agree in this general, That the first man's similitude with his Maker did radically and punctually consist in righteousness and integrity of soul and body,' at so fair accord among themselves, wherein this righteousness or integrity did properly or formally consist, or of what rank or order it was. |