III.And, as for that Third Thing included in the Proposition itself concerning these Teachers which want the Grace of God, we shall refer that to the tenth Proposition, where the Matter is more particularly handled.
§. II.
If then we may affirm, that Adam did not retain in his Nature (as belonging thereunto) any Will or Light capable to give him Knowledge in spiritual Things, then neither can his Posterity: For whatsoever real Good any Man doth, it proceedeth not from his Nature, as he is Man, or the Son of Adam; but from the Seed of God in him, as a new Visitation of Life, in order to bring him out of this natural Condition: So that, though it be in him, yet it is not of him; and this the Lord himself witnessed, Gen. vi. 5. where it is said, he saw that every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually: Which Words as they are very positive, so are they very comprehensive. Every Imagination of the natural Man is evil.Observe the Emphasis of them; First, There is every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart; so that this admits of no Exception of any Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart. Secondly, Is only evil continually; it is neither in some Part evil continually, nor yet only evil at some Times; but both only evil, and always and continually evil; which certainly excludes any Good, as a proper Effect of Man’s Heart, naturally: For that which is only evil, and that always, cannot of its own Nature produce any good Thing. The Lord expressed this again a little after, Chap. viii. 21. The Imagination of Man’s Heart is evil from his Youth. Thus inferring how natural and proper it is unto him; from which I thus argue:
If the Thoughts of Man’s Heart be not only evil, but always evil; then are they, as they simply proceed from his Heart, neither good in Part, nor at any Time:
But the First is true: Therefore the Last.
Again,
If Man’s Thoughts be always and only evil, then are they altogether useless and ineffectual to him in the Things of God:
But the First is true: Therefore the Last.
The Heart of Man deceitful.Secondly, This appears clearly from that Saying of the Prophet Jeremiah, Chap. xvii. 9. The Heart is deceitful above all Things, and desperately wicked. For who can with any Colour of Reason imagine, that that which is so hath any Power of itself, or is in any wise fit, to lead a Man to Righteousness, whereunto it is of its own Nature directly opposite? This is as contrary to Reason, as it is impossible in Nature, that a Stone of its own Nature and proper Motion, should fly upwards: For as a Stone of its own Nature inclineth and is prone to move downwards towards the Center, so the Heart of Man is naturally prone and inclined to Evil, some to one, and some to another. From this then I also thus argue: