N06399:112
The great Christian doctrine of original sin defended
The great Christian doctrine of original sin defended; evidences of it's [sic] truth produced, and arguments to the contrary answered. Containing, in particular, a reply to the objections and arguings of Dr. John Taylor, in his book, entitled, "The Scripture-doctrine of original sin proposed to free and candid examination, &c. / By the late Reverend and learned Jonathan Edwards, president of the College of New-Jersey. ; [Thirteen lines of quotations]The great Christian doctrine of original sin defended; evidences of it's [sic] truth produced, and arguments to the contrary answered. Containing, in particular, a reply to the objections and arguings of Dr. John Taylor, in his book, intitled, "The Scripture-doctrine of original sin proposed to free and candid examination, &c. / By the late Reverend and learned Jonathan Edwards, president of the College of New-Jersey. ; [Thirteen lines of quotations]
printed by S. Kneeland, 1758
The great Christian Doctrine of ORIGINAL SIN defended. › Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Section 3
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
That this is the true Case, may be demonstrated by what is evident of the infinite Heinousness of Sin against God, from the Nature of things. The Heinousness of this must rise in some Proportion to the Obligation we are under to regard the divine Being; and that must be in some Proportion to his Worthiness of Regard; which doubtless is infinitely beyond the Worthiness of any of our Fellow Creatures. But the Merit of our Respect or Obedience to God is not infinite. The Merit of Respect to any Being don't increase, but is rather diminished in Proportion to the Obligations we are under in strict Justice to pay him that Respect. There is no great Merit in paying a ⟨p. 30⟩Debt we owe, and by the highest possible Obligations in strict Justice are obliged to pay; but there is great Demerit in refusing to pay it. That on such Accounts as those there is an infinite Demerit in all Sin against God, which must therefore immensely outweigh all the Merit which can be supposed to be in our Virtue, I think, is capable of full Demonstration; and that the Futility of the Objection. which some have made against the Argument, might most plainly be demonstrated. But I shall omit a particular Consideration of the Evidence of this Matter from the Nature of Things, as I study Brevity, and left any should cry out, Metaphysics! as the Manner of some is, when any Argument is handled, against any Tenet they are fond of, with a close and exact Consideration of the Nature of Things. And this is not so necessary in the present Case, in as much as the Point asserted, namely, that he who commits any one Sin, has Guilt and Ill-Desert which is so great, that the Value and Merit of all the Good which it is possible he should do in his whole Life, is as Nothing to it; I say, this Point is not only evident by Metaphysics, but is plainly demonstrated by what has been shown to be Fact, with respect to God's own Constitutions and Dispensations towards Mankind: As particularly by this, that whatever Acts of Virtue and Obedience a Man performs, yet if he trespasses in one Point, is guilty of any the least Sin, He, according to the Law of God, and so according to the exact Truth of Things and the proper Demerit of Sin, is exposed to be wholly cast out of Favour with God, and subjected to his Curse, to be utterly and eternally destroyed. This has been proved; and shown to be the Doctrine which Dr. T.
That this is the true Case, may be demonstrated by what is evident of the infinite Heinousness of Sin against God, from the Nature of things. The Heinousness of this must rise in some Proportion to the Obligation we are under to regard the divine Being; and that must be in some Proportion to his Worthiness of Regard; which doubtless is infinitely beyond the Worthiness of any of our FellowCreatures. But the Merit of our Respect or Obedience to God is not infinite. The Merit of Respect to any Being don't increase, but is rather diminish'd in Proprtion to the Obligations we are under in strict Justice to pay him that Respect. There is no great Merit in paying a