Wesley Corpus

But I would first observe in general, with Dr. Jennings, that there are two kinds of texts in the ensuing collection: Some that directly prove, others that properly illustrate, the doctrine of original sin. And there are so many in which it is either directly spoken of, or evidently implied, that the author might well have spared his observation, “The Scripture speaks very sparingly of the consequences of Adam’s sin upon us, because as these are freely reversed to mankind by Christ, we are not so much concerned to know them.” (Page 50.) The fact here affirmed is equally true with the reason assigned for it. 2. The First proposition in the Catechism, which relates to original sin, is this:-- “The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descend ing from him by ordinary generation, sinned with him, and fell with him, in that first transgression. “‘God hath made of one blood all nations of men.” (Acts xvii. 26.)” (Pages 91, 92.)--I believe Dr. Jennings's remark here will suffice:-- “This is quoted to prove that all mankind descend from Adam. But Dr. Taylor adds, “That is, hath made all the nations of the world of one species, endowed with the same facul ties.’” (Jennings’s Vindication, p. 49, &c.) And so they might have been, if all men had been created singly and separately, just as Adam was; but they could not then, with any propriety of language, have been said to be of one blood. This Scripture, therefore, is very pertinently quoted to prove what it is brought for. That ‘Adam was a public person, including all his pos terity, and, consequently, that all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression, the Assembly have proved very methodically and substantially: First, from Gen. ii. 16, 17, where death is threatened to Adam in case of his sinning; then from Romans v. 12-20, and l Cor. xv. 21, 22, where we are expressly told that “all men die in Adam;” and that, “by his offence, judgment is come upon all men to condemnation.” Proposition. “All mankind sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression.” Which they prove by Gen. ii. 16, 17, compared with Romans v. 15-20.