-- CHAPTER I: The general design and division of the discourse
-- CHAPTER VII: A fourth sort of additional confirmations, drawn from the harmonies that are between it and other divine truths -- CHAPTER VIII: The dreadfulness of this punishment argued from all and each of the particulars treated of in the former chapters.
-- CHAPTER IX: The inferences and uses of the doctrine.
AN UNREGENERATE MAN'S
GUILTINESS BEFORE GOD,
IN RESPECT OF SIN AND PUNISHMENT
BOOK I:
Of an unregenerate man's guiltiness before God, from the imputation of Adam's first transgression to every person of his posterity
CHAPTER I:
The general design and division of the discourse WE have seen the state of pure nature, as to the holiness and happiness thereof, by the law of God.* I come now unto man's fallen and lost condition in a state of sin and wrath, which is the condition of all by nature, and whilst in the state of nature.
My method shall be this:
I. To handle the sinfulness of all men by nature in respect of their birth-sin (which from Augustine we have used to call original sin), both in the guilt and corruption thereof.
II. To treat of it as it is a state, or an abiding condition, and therein to discover the several sorts of men remaining unregenerate in the church, and of a common profession of Christ: viz. 1, of ignorant persons; 2, profane; 3, civil and formal Christians; and to detect the deceits and false pleas which each of these have, why they think themselves happy if they should die therein. That which I intend therein is a conviction of all these sorts of persons (that are the generality of the church) that they are still in the state of nature, and, without true regeneration, will eternally perish.
III. The third is the sinfulness of sin, and the aggravations of it, as in sinning against mercies, against knowledge, &c.; together with the fearfulness of that punishment which is due unto men for the least sin in that estate.
I. As to the first, my method is, First, To shew the first entrance of sin upon all men by Adam's first sin, that is, the first imputation of that act to all men; and how far the guilt of that act is charged on us, and how far it was personal and proper only to him.