imagines, I see not what could be gained by it: because it would be trifling to a considerable Degree. And all the Arguments, used by _Milton_, in his third Book of _Paradise Lost_, to shew the Absurdity of that Doctrine, which considers _Adam_ as _acting_, or rather as _being acted, by Necessity_, in that Situation of Paradise, would be equally applicable to all the Elect, under the absolute Slavery of the _Fall_. Where is the Use of _Reason_, or _Moral Agency_, in Man, if another be substituted to act in his Stead, and not he himself? Man, being made a _free_ and _moral_ Agent, has Power to act for himself, and can be accountable for no body's Crimes but his own. The _Consciousness_ of being a Sinner, belongs only to him, that _actually_ sinneth, or omitteth his Duty. Enthusiasm indeed, which, in its highest Stages, is a kind of spiritual Madness, may have on some Minds a quite different Effect; and the Poor Soul, that is subject to this gloomy and tyrannical Principle, may conceit strange things; it may at one Time imagine itself under the Guilt of _Adam's_ Sin, which it never committed; and fancy itself a Saint in Jesus Christ (and what not) at another: it is a mad Principle, fruitful of false Doctrines, Chimeras, and Monsters. It matters not whether (as in the Case of _Natural Madness_) the Reason be lost, or whether (as in that of _Enthusiasm_) it be over-power'd, and brought into subjection to False Principles. The Effect is the same; and between Powers that are suffered to lie dormant, and no Powers at all, there is here no material Distinction to be made. Again, this Notion of _Adam's_ being more likely to stand than his Posterity, is a mere Fallacy: it supposes a Difference of State, and Rectitude of Mind, between him and us; which, if true, will likewise suppose, that our State being more weak and defenceless than his, the Task or Duty, assigned us, must be proportionate to our different and inferior Abilities. If _Adam_ was put into this State, as _The Ruin and Recovery_ seems to suppose, from a Motive of Love in God, to his Creatures, in order to prevent the Misery of the Human Race; the same Love cannot fail to commiserate the Case, and to provide an effectual Remedy for all such as are included in the Covenant. _Adam's_ Motive to Obedience must (we are told) have been greatly strengthened by this Consideration, That on _Him_ depended the Happiness, not of _himself_ only, but of _all his Posterity_. But, I believe, Experience will tell us, that if the Consideration of a Man's own Future State, placed in the strongest Light (as this Book supposes before _Adam_) be not sufficient to move to Obedience, a Regard to others will seldom have any considerable Influence: Such a Covenant enter'd into, or rather arbitrarily imposed on _Adam_ by his Maker, could not fail to awaken, in so holy and knowing a Creature, some very uneasy and disquieting Suspicions. This Covenant, and _Partial Election_ thence following after the _Fall_,