On the Imputation of Adam's First Sin · §45

Cap. VII: Secunda ratio — ἐν ᾧ versus ἐφ᾽ ᾧ and common-sense horror

Second reason. If the Apostle had thought of imputation, this place uniquely demanded that he commemorate it expressly; and he ought to have said in whichhichhich, not on whichichich, because the matter is hard and abhorrent from common sense, and therefore he ought to have expressed it clearly, lest anyone doubt concerning it. He answers first: whether the imputing of alien sins abhors from common sense has already been disputed above. Nay, it abhors that they be imputed to some who are altogether innocent, so that on account of alien things imputed these men are punished with a punishment which is truly sin and makes them inheringly sinners, so that by this imputation they become liable to eternal death who otherwise would not be liable. This, I say, from common sense, from Scripture, and from reason, and from the very sense of conscience, seems to me to abhor vehemently. What? If someone should say that other sins of Adam, or of the other Patriarchs, are imputed to us all, would he not seem to say things abhorrent from common sense? Let there be some imputation of an alien sin that is not unjust: has that been proved of every imputation, and namely of this such immediate imputation of the first actual sin, than which none more unjust seems to me able to be feigned?

Latin

Secunda ratio. Si Apostolus de imputatione cogitasset, locus hic unice flagitabat, ut eam diserte commemoraret: et debuit dicere ἐν ᾧ, non ἐφ᾽ ᾧ, quia res ardua est, et a communi sensu abhorrens, itaque oportuit eam clare exprimere, ne quis de ea dubitaret. Respondet primo, an imputari aliena peccata a communi sensu abhorreat, jam supra disputatum est. Immo abhorret, ut imputentur aliquibus prorsus innocentibus, ut ob aliena imputata hi puniantur ea poena quae sit vere peccatum, eosque faciat inhaerenter peccatores, ut hac imputatione fiant rei mortis aeternae, alioqui non rei. Hoc, inquam, a sensu communi, a Scriptura, et ratione, ab ipsoque conscientiae sensu mihi videtur vehementer abhorrere. Quid? nonne si quis diceret, alia Adami, aut aliorum Patriarcharum peccata nobis omnibus imputari, is videretur a communi sensu abhorrentia dicere? Sit aliqua alieni peccati non injusta imputatio, an id probatum est de omni, ac nominatim de ista tali, primi peccati actualis imputatione immediata, qua nulla mihi fingi posse videtur injustior?

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. 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

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