On the Imputation of Adam's First Sin · §16

Cap. V: Distributio dicendorum — reconcile the two lines of argument

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Chapter Five. Distribution of what is to be said.

Placeus having been reconciled with the Synod, nothing remains except that we reconcile with each other the lines of argument standing on either side — the one for imputation, the other against imputation of Adam's first sin — so that, hatreds laid down and dissension removed, with joined strength they may together contribute whatever force they have to defending and confirming the Synod's Decree. And that will happen if we demonstrate that neither the arguments brought forward for the imputation of Adam's first disobedience avail anything toward proving antecedent or immediate imputation, nor the arguments brought against the imputation of that sin have any force against consequent or mediate imputation. For when it has become plain that the former do not prove the imputation which the latter reject, and that the latter do not reject the imputation which the former prove, will it not become manifest that those arguments fight among themselves only in appearance, but in truth conspire amicably to establish mediate imputation, the immediate having been repudiated, and to defend the Synod's Decree as I have set it forth? Unless I accomplish both, that appearance of conflict will perpetually strike terror and will, as it were, threaten war; nor, with prejudices intervening and perhaps some disturbances, will a sure hope of establishing firm peace arise. Therefore I must throw my whole strength into demonstrating both. I ask our Lord Jesus Christ as a suppliant that he grant me to do it so clearly and effectually that every handle for doubting and dissenting about this matter afterward be utterly taken away, and that we all by the power and unity of the same Holy Spirit come into the same judgment and constantly persevere in it. Amen.

And we will proceed in this order. First we will call back to examination the arguments brought forward for the imputation of Adam's first sin, and we will make it plain that if they prove any imputation of that sin, it is only consequent or Mediate. Then we will likewise weigh the arguments that seem to fight against the imputation of that first sin, and we will show that they have no force except against antecedent or immediate imputation. So these will be the two parts of what remains for us to say.

Latin

CAPUT V. Distributio dicendorum. Reconciliato cum Synodo Placeo, nihil superest, nisi ut stantes utrinque argumentorum acies, alteram pro imputatione, alteram contra imputationem primi Adae peccati, conciliemus inter se, ut positis odiis, sublata dissensione, coniunctis viribus ad Decretum Synodi tuendum et confirmandum quicquid habent roboris concorditer conferant. Id autem fiet, si demonstraverimus, neque argumenta, quae pro imputatione primae Adae inobedientiae afferuntur, quicquam valere ad probandam imputationem antecedentem seu immediatam, neque argumenta, quae contra peccati illius imputationem proferuntur, ullam vim habere adversus imputationem consequentem seu mediatam. Ubi enim patuerit, nec illa probare imputationem quam ista improbant, nec ista eam improbare quam illa probant, nonne manifestum evadet, in speciem tantum inter se argumenta illa pugnare, re autem vera conspirare amice ad imputationem mediatam, repudiata immediata, firmandam, Decretumque Synodi, ut a me expositum est, defendendum? Nisi hoc utrumque praestitero, species illa repugnantiae terrorem perpetuo incutiet, et bellum veluti intentabit, nec, intercedentibus praeiudiciis, nonnullisque fortasse perturbationibus, firmae pacis constabiliendae spes certa exorietur. In id igitur mihi totis viribus incumbendum est, ut utrumque illud demonstrem. Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum supplex rogo, ut mihi id facere indulgeat ita clare et efficaciter, ut omnis in posterum de hac re dubitandi dissentiendique ansa prorsus tollatur, omnesque virtute et unitate eiusdem Spiritus sancti in eandem sententiam conveniamus, in eaque constanter perseveremus. Amen. Hoc autem ordine procedemus. Primum argumenta quae pro imputatione primi Adae peccati afferuntur, ad examen revocabimus, et planum faciemus, si quam peccati illius imputationem probant, eam nonnisi consequentem seu Mediatam esse. Deinde argumenta quae contra imputationem primi illius peccati militare videntur, similiter ponderabimus, nullamque vim habere ostendemus, nisi adversus imputationem antecedentem seu immediatam. Ita hae duae erunt partes eorum quae nobis dicenda restant.

About this text

New English, free to read. Open any section below.

English follows the locked 1661 Saumur Latin of Capita I–XIV partial through Man. Post. Caput IX (eph-ho / eph-ho pantes) before eph-ho / eph-ho pantes, reconstructed from IA PDF page images with Vision OCR and pdftotext as check. No modern English was copied. Cap. IX deepen+ remain.

Catalogue & scope

IA deimputationepri00lapl. Densify: Capita I–XII + Caput XIV + Man. Post. Cap. II–VI through Cap. X Rom. 5:14 tip. Not whole Disputatio; Cap. X Rom. 5:14+ / ~494 pp Disputatio remain.

Witnesses

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.