Wesley Corpus

(4.) This is the genuine effect of the first sin of our first father. The Apostle does not attribute it to the devil; neither does he say, ‘In Adam and Eve all die.’ But here also he mentions Adam singly. Him he speaks of as ‘a figure of Christ.” (Verses 45, 47, 48.) And here, as the sole author of death to all his natural de scendants. ‘In Adam, or on account of his fall, “all” of mankind, in every age, ‘die;’ consequently, in him all sinned. With him all fell in his first transgression. That they are all born liable to the legal punishment of sin proves him the federal as well as natural head of mankind; whose sin is so far imputed to all men, that they are born ‘children of wrath, and liable to death.” (Pages 74-77.) “Thus have I considered a large number of texts, which testify of original sin, imputed and inherent. Some are more express than others, of which kind are Job xiv. 4; Psalm li. 5; lviii. 3; Rom. v. 12, &c.; 1 Cor. xv. 22; Eph. ii. 3. That in Ephesians presents us with a direct proof of the entire doc trine. Those in Romans and Corinthians relate directly to original sin imputed, and are but consequential proofs of original corruption. The rest refer particularly to this, and are but consequential proofs of original sin imputed. “And as this doctrine stands impregnable on the basis of Scripture, so it is perfectly agreeable to sound reason; as may appear from a few plain arguments which confirm this scripture doctrine.” (Page 79.) “(1.) If the first man was by God’s appointment, as has been shown, the federal head of all his descendants, it fol lows, that when Adam sinned and fell, they all sinned in him, and fell with him. And if they did, they must come into the world both guilty and unclean. “‘But we had no hand in Adam’s sin, and therefore can not be guilty on account of it.’ “This, ‘We had no hand in it, is ambiguous. It means either, “We did not actually join therein, which no one denies, or, “We were wholly unconcerned in it; the contrary to which has been fully proved. “(2.) Since Adam’s posterity are born liable to death, which is the due “wages of sin, it follows, that they are born sinners.