"The
great Charles Simeon of Cambridge wrote more than a century ago that if each
human being were asked whether he would prefer to be judged in Adam or in
himself, every thinking person would answer “in Adam” (Romans 5:12-19). After
all, Adam faced only one temptation and that a mere trifle. He was not to eat
of one tree. Besides, he was as yet unfallen. He did not have a sinful nature.
He was possessed of his full faculties (which were undoubtedly superior to our
own). He lived in a perfect environment and had a perfect companion. For our
part, we are sinful, weak, and ignorant, and we live in a world filled with all
kinds of temptations. Was it not merciful of God to judge us in Adam? Was God
not gracious in that choice?"
—James
Montgomery Boice (1991–). Romans: The Reign of Grace (Vol. 2, pp. 567–568).
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
and
here is quote from Charles Simeon:
"From
the doctrine of our fall in Adam and our recovery in Christ, we cannot but
OBSERVE (Romans 5:12-19),
1. How
deep and unsearchable are the ways of God!
[That
ever our first parent should be constituted a federal head to his posterity, so
that they should stand or fall in him, is in itself a stupendous mystery. And
it may appear to have been an arbitrary appointment, injurious to the whole
race of mankind. But we do not hesitate to say, that if the whole race of
mankind had been created at once in precisely the same state and circumstances
as Adam was, they would have been as willing to stand or fall in Adam, as to
have their lot depend upon themselves; because they would have felt, that,
whilst he possessed every advantage that they did, he had a strong inducement
to steadfastness which they could not have felt, namely, the dependence of all
his posterity upon his fidelity to God: and consequently, that their happiness
would be more secure in his hands than in their own. But if it could now be put
to every human being to determine for himself this point; if the question were
asked of every individual, Whether do you think it better that your happiness
should depend on Adam, formed as he was in the full possession of all his
faculties; subjected to one only temptation, and that in fact so small a
temptation as scarcely to deserve the name; perfect in himself, and his only
companion being perfect also, and no such thing as sin existing in the whole
creation; whether would you prefer, I say, to depend on him, or on yourself,
born into a world that lieth in wickedness, surrounded with temptations
innumerable, and having all your faculties only in a state of infantine
weakness, so as to be scarcely capable of exercising with propriety either
judgment or volition: Would any one doubt a moment? Would not every person to
whom such an option was given, account it an unspeakable mercy to have such a
representative as Adam was, and to have his happiness depend on him, rather
than on his own feeble capacity and power? There can be no doubt on this
subject: for if Adam, in his more favourable circumstances, fell, much more
should we in circumstances where it was scarcely possible to stand. Still
however, though we acknowledge it to be a gracious and merciful appointment, we
must nevertheless regard it as a stupendous mystery."
—Charles
Simeon (1833). Horae Homileticae: Romans (Vol. 15, p. 135). London: Holdsworth
and Ball.
