Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 5:12

12 Wherefore , as by one man sin entred into the world , and death by sin , and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned .

From this Verse to the end of the Chapter, the Apostle makes a large Comparison between the first and second Adam, which he joyns to what he had said by the causal Particle Wherefore. q. d. Seeing Things are as I have already said, it is Evident, That what was Lost by Adam, is Restored by Christ. This Verse seems to be Lame and Imperfect; the Reddition is wanting in the Comparison: For unto this (As by one Man sin entered into the World) there should be added, So by Christ, &c. But the Reddition, or second part of the Comparison, is suspended, by reason of a long Parenthesis intervening to the 18. and 19. verses ▪ where the Apostle sets down both parts of the Comparison.

viz. Adam. Obj. Eve first sinned. 1 Tim. 2.14. A. He is not shewing the order how Sin first entred into the World, but how it was propagated to mankind. Therefore he mentions the Man, because he is the head of the woman, and the Covenant was made with him: Or, Man may be used collectively, both for man and woman; as when God said, Let us make Man, &c.

It is to be understood of our first Parents actual sin, in eating the forbidden Fruit; this alone was it that affected their posterity, and made them Sinners, v. 19.

Understand the Inhabitants of the world; the thing containing by an usual Metonimy is put for the thing contained.

As the due reward thereof. Death here may be taken in its full latitude for temporal, spiritual and eternal death.

Seized upon all, of all sorts, Infants as well as others.

Others read it thus; in which all have sinned. i. e. in which one man, and so it is a full proof that Adam was a publick person, and that in him all his posterity sinned and fell. He was our Representative, and we were all in him as a Town or Country in a Parliament Man, and although we chose him not, yet God chose for us. The words [non-Latin text not transcribed] are rendred in which in other places, and the preposition [non-Latin text not transcribed] is put for [non-Latin text not transcribed] vid. Mar. 2.4. Heb. 9.10. and if our translation be retained, it is much to the same sence; for if such dye as never committed any actual sin themselves (as Infants do) then it will follow that they sinned in this one man, in whose loynes they were; as Levi is said to have paid tithes in Abrahams loynes, Heb. 7.9.

Marginal references: Gen. 3.[illegible: 1 letter] 1 Cor. 15▪; Gen. 2.[illegible: 1 letter] Chap. 6.[illegible: 1 letter]; Or, [illegible: 1 span]