from whence he came The Angells did admire at Adams state The living creatures did before him waite Iob 38.7 Gen 2.2 He gave them names and they obedient were To that dominion which his Image beare Psal 8.6 His Image was his Makers sanctity Infus'd into him as a quality The essence of the soule and faculties Like unto God in her agilities In all things perfect with a holy will With free election to be good or ill In Purity and Iustice Excellence Eph 4.24 Befitting such created Innocence In upright Iudgement and in Wisdome pure Immortall if he stood so to endure Yet one thing Man did want he was alone And therefore God himselfe provides him one Obiection Was Man alone when as he might converse With all the Creatures in this Vniverse Question Ioh 16.32 Was he alone who had society With the three Persons in one Deity Answer He was alone because he could not finde A selfe-like Nature Female of his Kinde It was not good for Man to be alone When each had Females and himselfe had none He spake it in his counsell that did know Tertul. contra Prax. And the whole Trinity approv'd it so Who at that time consulted thereupon As meet for Man to have a helping-One To give a full perfection to his state VVhom he had made most fit to propagate Zanch treatise of spiritual Marriage To adde a perfect joy unto his life In the fruition of a faithfull Wife VVho in the state of his pure innocence Should cheare him up with selfe-like diligence And in his fall or disobediency Prove his best comfort in extremity Nay in the further issue of the deed God had a greater end in this decreed That Christ should come from Adams loynes distinct True God true Man the Arrians to convict Of Adams seede a holy Church erect Subsisting totally of the Elect VVhom he would in his wisdome separate Ephes 1.4 Eph 2.10 From the defiled sinfull Reprobate VVhich could not stand by Natures argument VVithout the helpe of such an instrument For how could this vast world be peopled then VVithout the helpe of women and of men Vnlesse the Lord had wrought a miracle VVithout the helpe of them by oracle Being a Potent all-sufficient Lord Able to have perform'd it with a word But God to finish his great worke begun Would onely have it in this manner done He cast the wonder of the world asleepe His sleepe was not naturall but divine desceÌ„ding from heaâ—ven not ascending from the stomacke to the head Presaging a most sacred mist'ry deepe Tooke from his side a rib most neere his heart Not putting him to any paine or smart VVith flesh did close the hollow place againe VVherein the rib did formerly remaine Then fram'd a Woman like him in each thing Save in the sex where was the differing But in the action you must understand God did it by his power not by his hand August de Civit. Dei l. 12. c. 13. He spake the word or wil'd it instantly And it was finished effectually Then in a vision he declar'd to Man How and of what he builded the Woman How she was fram'd of him and of his bone That they might not be two but both be one How all men from that one deriv'd should be Aug. 〈◊〉 l. 12. c 2 〈◊〉 22 To shew how he affecteth unitie And that in her he should repose his trust Being so chast wise modest constant just Thus God in vision did to him declare The Vertues of his Wife particular Gen. 2.22 And He no sooner from his sleepe did wake But God his new-made daughter then did take And bring to Man who when to him she came According to her Nature tooke her Name God gave Her unto Man Man tooke his Wife With all the blessings suting to her life Gen 1.28 He bade them to increase and multiplie And fill the Earth with humane company He bade them to beare rule o're Fish and Foule On Each-thing creeping that had life or soule He gave them the whole Earth for to possesse And Paradise withall to keepe and dresse He tolde them where hereafter they should dwell And fill those places whence the Angels fell He bade them on his favour to relie And He would blesse them and their progenie He gave them all the fruites and hearbs to eate Gen 1.29 Which he before appointed for their meate But of the Tree of knowledge next to life He must not eate thereof nor may his Wife For whensoever they did taste the same They both should dye and dying feele the blame Gen. 2.9 These two were in the midst of Eden plac't And had their Names agreeing to their Taste VVhat Fruite they bare Scripture doth not expresse But Trees they were and that we all confesse Origen Planted and watered growing bearing fruite True trees not Allegor'es as some dispute But why so called Here will be the ground To taxe the Rabbins and the truth expound They thought the Tree of knowledge to be such Ioseph Anâ—iq l. 1. c. 2. As might augment his knowledge by the touch Increase his wit his understanding more And make him perfecter than heretofore This same conceit made Iulian to misdeeme Iulian the Apostata That God did then but little Man esteeme VVhen as he might not touch but by it glance Thereby to keepe him still in Ignorance But this same Tree had no such property To adde unto the Soule such faculty For sure such corporall fruites could ne're erect Within the Soule such sp'rituall effect Nor can a thing that 's perfect well be said To be imperfect or unperfect made Adam was perfect in each faculty In will in knowledge and in memory In wisedome justice and in understanding Having the creatures under his commanding Gen. 1.28 He had a twofold essence in degree Denoting him the Worlds-Epitomee Chrysost in his treaty on the 2 Cor. 12.9 Being a twofold world for to declare One God was Earth and Heavens Artist rare Better he could not have beene made by Nature Vnlesse he had beene made some other Creature God I confesse might have created him A holy Angel or a Cherubim He might have given him better Qualities Agreeing to his god-like Faculties But as the Lord is good so is he wise Psal 34.8.104.24 And gave him what his Nature did suffise He made him perfect in the prime Creation His Knowledge could receive no augmentation Either by Science or by naturall Fruite As these wise Rabbins vainly doe dispute If then the Tree could not augment the same Let us inquire then why 't had the name Some say that it was called Good and Evill Through the deluding promise of the Divell VVho being to deceive him told him so And he gave credence to his mortall Foe But did not Adam know both Good and Evill Question Before he was foretold it of the Divell Answer Yes he knew ill by
within by Christ his righteousnesse Imputed to her as her holinesse Glorious without by his infused grace Cant. 4.7 Without a spot or wrinkle in her face Though in her selfe defiled and polluted Yet is she otherwise with God reputed Christ Iesus Rom 13.14 For being cloathed with this indument This glorious robe her best abiliment No sinfull blemish in her doth appeare Because in Christ she is esteemed cleare Cant 6 8. She is immaculate to looke upon More I would write of this beloved one But my precedent subject doth enforce Me to returne to my intended course And I as one directed must withall Leave this discourse and write of Adams fall His State his Losse his Sinne how it began By the grand Divell enemy to Man THe Divel was an Angel once of light Iob 4.18 Blest in beholding of his Makers sight â—ndu'de with most profound Intelligence Ezek. 28.13 15. Befitting such created excellence But thinking in himselfe to be more great He headlong fell from that supernall Seat Isay 14.12 VVith many hundred thousand Angels more VVhom God to mercy never will restore VVhom he in Iustice for their wickednesse Hath ty'd in chaines of everlastingnesse 2 Pet. 2.4 VVhom he permits in wicked men to raigne Absent a while from Hell not from their Paine Whom he reserves unto the Iudgement day Iude 1.6 To feele the anguish of a greater pay And He whose pow'r might have sustain'd them all Permits them justly in their sinne to fall And Satan here to use his tyranny Although he were his greatest enemy Yea though in spight he sought to overthrow The glory of his creatures here below For he the Head unable to rest The Divels weaknesse Gainst whom he in rebellion did persist Now bends his force to ruine Adams state Which he by guesse suppos'd as terminate Beholding Adam then so meane a Creature Of such base Matter now to be his Greater Of such Imperiall State and dignity Psal 8 5. â—njoying his late fallen Felicity He stormes in rage and swelleth in his ire Consulting if he might him quite t' expire He knew by Nature well that God was just Psal 145.17 Gen. 2.7 He knew that Adam was but made of dust He knew if sinne his goodnesse did pervert It would redound unto each creatures hurt And he by doing it should extirpate 2 Pet. 2 5. All their whole glory by his inbred hate Which well he knew would be no small defeat Vnto the Lord of Lords their Soveraigne great Resolv'd therein he like a subtill one Gen 3 1. He did not turne himselfe into a serpent but entred into the serpent Must single out the Woman all-alone And shrouded in a Serpent for collusion Will speake unto her but to her confusion He durst not doe it before Adams face Neither attempt it being Both in place He needs must doe it when she is alone Not by Compulsion but Perswasion He must entise her for to take the fruit He could not enter her her to pollute He could not this doe for her Sanctity And therefore he will prove his Subtilty Gen 3 4 He moves the subtill Serpent for to speake VVhich without Gods permission was too weake He guides his Tongue in all agility To finde the Womans imbecillity Chrysost on Gen. He speaks unto her and she doth admire him And to speak on she seemeth to desire him He takes occasion from her Carelesnesse To rob her of her Faith and Righteousnesse He bids her eate the woman doth denie Gen 3 4 Repeates what God hath threatned Lest ye die But He more crafty unto Her reply'd Not surely dye but Both be Deifi'd As Earthly Gods they should know Good and Ill And have All things agreeing to their Will Their eyes should open and immediate show That which So much they did desire to know Ibid vers 5 That God should know it and would envie them Which gave him cause to care so much for them And this he spake in ambiguities Gulling the Woman by his subtilties Who seeing that the Tree was good for meat And had such pow'r to make her wise and great Ibid. v. 6. And was so faire and lovely to behold She takes upon her and she will be bolde She gives full reines unto her Gluttony Murdering by it her whole Posterity Not satisfi'd her selfe alone to taste She runnes to her Companion all in haste And finding him among the shady trees Eues search for Adâ—m Devoted unto God upon his knees Ore else at quiet by his sleepinesse For man ' gainst danger is in heavinesse She stay'd a while untill he for his Bride Had cast off sleepe layd drowsinesse aside Then after many smiles and sweet embraces Which Lovers use in such befitting places She frames her tongue and doth begin to tell During his absence what to her befell How in her late accustom'd pleasant walke She heard a Serpent most distinctly talke Eves speech to Adam Who with deliberate words did full declare The cause of his intent and being there And then she tolde him every circumstance Which did befall them in their disputance What Proofes impregnable he did her bring Above her strength her reason conquering How much he did commend that pleasant fruite Which had rare pow'r to make them most acute Then more to move his longing appetite She brings the liquorish Apple to his sight Which from his teeth extorted such a water As drowned all his Wit and Senses after And having put the apple in his hand She gave him Thus much more to understand That having eate it he should never dye Gen 3 4. For they as Gods should live eternally He wonne by her deluding eloquence Puts God aside gives her preheminence With admiration still doth hearing give Because he saw her eate and yet to live Beleeves a lying-Devill and a Wife But gives no credit to the Lord of Life Who tolde him of his penalty before That death should be approaching to his dore Ready to seize upon him as a prey Gen 2.17 The very Minute and the selfe-same day He should presume to taste or eate the same And beare him to the place from whence he came Therefore in pitty God did him intreat That as he lov'd his Soule he would not eat Gen 3.3 God said Not eate Eve added this word Nor touch And didst not thou O Eve the same avouch Adding a word unto it No nor touch By which the Divell tooke a fit occasion To overrunne thee with a strong invasion Who that he might the better thee insnare Vs'd all the by-wayes and the trickes that were For he with words not spoke did friske about Chrys on Mat 7. So by contraries found the spoken out Made thee to blabbe the Lords commandement That he might winne thee to thy detriment Got thee to fling a Pearle unto a Swine To cast unto a Dog a thing divine Then wrought upon thy
rule of opposition And good as we distinguish by possession After his fall he likewise understood The Guilt of Evill by the losse of Good Others did call it so by the Event Because it did procure his punishment But this not fully doth explaine the place August de Civ Dei l 14. c. 12. The Tree was wholesome and had pleasant grace How was it evill then By Accident Not of it selfe By the Commandement Gen 2 17 For this cause it was said Thou shalt not eate The precept made it so the pow'r was great To warren Man from Sinne in Innocence Who after was to fall by Negligence Thou shalt not eate This precept tells him why But what commands the God of Majesty Rom 12.3 He bids him for to rectifie his Will And not to covet that would make him ill He bids him to be wise in all discretion And not to rise in thought 'bove his condition He tells him how his glory might consist In true obedience if he will persist He tells him though he were a Prince on earth Yet it was He that gave him first his birth And being but a Subject and a Creature Luk 20.25 Deu 10.12 He must pay homage to his Lord and Maker Thus as a Rule the Tree of knowledge stood To tye him to Obedience which was good It was not set by Gods appointment there For to intrap his life as with a Snare As the malicious multitude surmise Who murmure ' gainst the Lord that 's only wise But God therein would his Obedience try To prove his Love his Faith and Loyalty Deut 10.12 Nor did he stand in need of Mans obedience Who was to doe it upon his allegiance Nor could the Lord be better'd ought thereby Psal 16 2. For nought can adde unto his Soveraignty No Power can make him greater than he is Psa 145.3 No Ioy can helpe to perfect up his blisse No Iustice make him just by betterment Psal 50.11 No Knowledge adde to his experiment With one sole act he viewes all things that be Through his essentiall Conspicuitie Psal 94.11 And knowes the very secret thoughts of All By uncreated Power Personall Gods power is himselfe Prov. 8.15 He is the sole perfection of all things He maketh Lords inaugurateth Kings He pluckes them downe he reares them up againe For by his pow'r all Kings doe live and reigne Zanchy upon the Attribute Lord. Psal 50 12 Psal 145 3 Isay 40 12 Psal 147 9 He is the true and compleate Lord alone That helpeth All yet stands in need of None If he be hungry who shall give him meat For the whole world is his he is so great He measures Heav'n and Earth as with a Span He feedes the Beast and giveth food to Man He heares the little Ravens when they cry Iob 39 3 Psa 147.9 And gives them meat to to their voracity He with a word did Earth and Heavens make Psal 33 6 And he becomes a Begger for our sake He begs a loyall and a faithfull Heart Pro. 23 2â— Deut 10.12 He sued to Man and Man would not impart His bound obedience to his Maker great His soveraigne Lord of prime and Supreme-seate VVhat could the Lord in favour more have done Than have required duty of a Sonne VVhat could a Sonne in due have chosen rather Than true obedience to so good a Father Luk. 20.25 Who did exact obedience as his due To have confirm'd his Faith and blest him too Gen. 2.17 Who did in mercy warne him of his fall That he might shunne the punishment withall But see the nature of Ingratefulnes Adam forgot the God of Righteousnes He would be elevated through Ambition Rom 12 13. He would be like the Highest in Condition He would be wise above Capacity He would be equall to the Deity Presum'd to gaine this knowledge by that Fruite But through his folly was made destitute It was no petty Sinne he did commit The greatnesse of his sinne No trifling Apple which he sought to get Although Pope Iulius third of that same name Did prize his Peacocks losse above the same His Sinne was most exceeding insolent Against the mighty Lord omnipotent Psal 145.3 He that is great without all Quantity He that is good without all Quality 1 Tim 1 17. Psal 90 2. Isay 66.1 Ier 23 24. He that is everlasting without Age He that in Heaven hath his heritage Who with his Essence Pow'r and Saving-grace Fills Heaven and Earth and is in Every-place This same is he which Adam disobey'd Rejecting Iacobs God to be his ayde All through the fond perswasion of his Wife And so I come unto the Tree of life THe Tree of life had properly the name From the true Vertue which was in the same The Fruite thereof retein'd this property To keep the body from mortality August de Civ Dei l 14. c. 26. In such a state and perpetuity As should have banisht all infirmity As Hunger Thirst olde Age and Feeblenesse Sorrow and Sicknesse Death and Wretchednesse And when that Adam had continued there In all the blisse and jollities that were In a full space of time contented then He should have gone not dyed as other men Like Enoch Gent 5.24 It was as a Sacrament of life to man But in his beauteous Strength and Happinesse Have beene translated to Gods blessednesse It likewise was a Signe of Life to Man That he might duly contemplate thereon And so obeying the commandement Might endlesse live without all punishment It was a Type of Christ the Sonne of God Rev 22 2. Pro 3 13 Ioh 6 33. Who should be borne to feele his Fathers rod And so give life to Mans posterity Who lost the same by Adams misery Thus stood these Trees in midst of Paradice Gen 2 9. When Adam listen'd unto Gods advice Thus Adam was in his Magnificence Gen 1 26 Long of his Makers great Benevolence Thus was he in Dominion over all Psal 8.5 6 In State and Power most Majesticall Thus was he seated thus did he command All things that were either in Sea or Land The Ayre was pure unblemisht to his eye The Sunne surpassed in his radiancy The Ground was fruitfull without helpe or labour And all the Hearbs had a most pleasant savour His Body was so comely and so faire As if it had beene made of purest aire His Lookes were heavenly and his Thoughts divine And all his Parts to goodnesse did incline His Second-selfe had all things that he had Gen 2.23 And in this Sympathy was Adam glad He cal'd her Woman and in that fit name He shew'd her Being and from whence she came â—bid v. 25 They both were naked and were not ashamed Their perfect comelines in Both unblamed Gen 3.7 They had no clothes to cover nakednesse Aug Civit. Dei l. 14. â—26 Till Sinne brought Shame to hide