Book VIII
after things fleshly and sinful. .... 278
Of the inclinations and lusts which are in the will and affections,
BOOK IX.
Wisdom in the hidden part, or practical wisdom concerning
original sin, founded on David s example and practice, Ps.
li. 6. That this sin is matter of repentance as well as our
actual sins, and how we are to be humbled for it, and to
repent of it. . . . . . 324
BOOK X.
That this state of guilt and natural corruption is the condition of
all men unregenerate, though they make an external profes
sion of Christianity.- A discovery of the several sorts of
such men, both the ignorant, the profane, and the civil and
the formal Christian. And an answer to all those pleas by which they excuse, justify, or flatter themselves. . . 377
BOOK XL
That an unregenerate man is highly guilty, by reason of the
numberless account of actual sins which^he daily commits. 429
BOOK XII.
of his sinfulness. ..... 489
An unregenerate man s guiltiness by reason of the aggravations
BOOK XIII.
Of the punishment of sin in hell. That the wrath of God is the
immediate cause of that punishment. . . . 490
AN UNREGENERATE MAN S GUILTINESS
BEFORE GOD, &c.
VOL. X.
AN UNREGENERATE MAN S GUILTINESS
BEFORE GOD,
IN BESPECT 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 con
dition 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 fearful-
ness of that punishment which is due unto men for the least sin in that
estate.
* In the Discourse of the Creatures, and the Condition of their State by Creation in Vol. II. of his Works. [Vol. VII. of this edition. ED.]
4 AN UNREGENERATE MAN*S GUILTINESS BEFJRE GOD, [BoOK L
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 ie charged en us, and how far it was personal and proper only to him.
Secondly, To lay open that corruption of nature which hath defiled all our
natures. Concerning which, 1, how it flows from the guilt of that first act;
2, that it is truly and -properly a sin ; then, 3, the great abounding sinfulness
thereof; and, 4, the parts thereof in general, as that it is,
First, A total privation and emptiness of all that is truly good.
Secondly, Positive inclinations to all evils, which consist in two things
1. In lusts, and therein of the nature of lusts, their inordinacy, their sin-
fulness and deceitfulness.
2. In an inbred enmity and opposition unto God, and whatever is holy and
good (which I make the third particular branch of original corruption).
This in general. II. More particularly, I lay open this corruption, as it is^in the whole man, and in every faculty.
First, The understanding in blindness, unbelief, practical false reasonings and deceits, &c.
Secondly, The thinking power, the vanity of thoughts.
Thirdly, The defilement in the conscience.
Fourthly, The subjection and bondage of the will and affections unto lusts ; then the varieties of these lusts, and of those master-lusts which are in the
hearts of several men.