280 RUUN AND RECOVERY, &e. Nor do I see any way how to avoid or escape these.perplexities, if we abandon this supposition of a common head or representa- tive of mankind, who may be supposed according to a just con- stitution to involve his posterity together with himself in a state of guilt and misery. Is it not much easier, to suppose that God looks upon these young creatures not as innocent or guiltlesss but as some way involved or interested in sin or guilt, when is the very original course of naturewhich he appointed, he brings them into being in such miserable circumstances, and so exposed to sin as well as pain ? I say, is it not much easier to suppose, that they are looked on as some way under guilt and condemna- tion, than that the appointment and providence of a good and holy God should bring them hourly into being, in the midst of such sinful and miserable circumstances, and.punish them with such early pains and sorrows, while he looks upon them as per-. fectly innocent and guiltless ? The fact is evident. The great God, who is both just and good, has appointed and continues such a law of propagation, wherebymillions ofinfants without any personal sin orfault of their own are brought into being under these wretched circumstances, inclined to sin, and liable to a thousand sorrows and pains, and death. This is plain and certain fact, beyond all reasonable doubt or contest : Now will not the equity orjustice, and the goodness of God be much better vindicated by supposing some original and righteous constitution, whereby these young crea- tures are some way involved in the guilt or sin of their original parent and representative, and so made liable to misery, than by supposing them to be entirely innocentwithout any charge of im- puted sin, and yet brought intobeing daily by theGodof nature, in acondition of suchproneness to sin, and exposed to such miseries? And as the glorious and holy nature and actions of God are best vindicated by such a suppossition, so without it I cannot well explain the scriptural account of this matter in that one short sentence; Rom. v. 12. Bq one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned ; that is, sin is imputed, or, which is much one in St. Paul's language, death, thepenalty of sin; has passedon all, or has reigned over all, and therefore all are esteemed in some sort as guilty and condemned in the sight of God, though they did not sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression, that is, they did not commit actual personal sin against a known law as Adam did§. Butl give but a single hint in this place; because I have reserved the scriptural account for another part of the discourse. st The righteousness of this constitution appears plain in propositions V. and VI. under question III. and section II. in question IV. § I confess that it is from scripture I derive my sentiments on this subject, and I firmly believe this doctrine of the imputation Of sin from Adam to all his attuning.
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