N06399:117
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 4
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.
SECT. IV.
The Depravity of Nature appears by a Propensity in all to sin immediately, as soon as they are capable of it, and to sin continually and progressively; and also by the Remains of Sin in the best of Men.
THE great Depravity of Man's Nature appears, not only in that they universally commit Sin, who spend any long Time in the World, but in that Men are ⟨p. 34⟩naturally so prone to Sin, that none ever fail of immediately transgressing God's Law, and so of bringing infinite Guilt on themselves, and exposing themselves to eternal Perdition, as soon as they are capable of it.
The Scriptures are so very express in it, that all Mankind, all Flesh, all the World, every Man living, are guilty of Sin; that it must at least be understood, every one that is come to be capable of being active, in Duty to God, or Sin against him, is guilty of Sin. There are Multitudes in the World, who have but very lately begun to exert their Faculties, as moral Agents; and so are but just entered on their State of Trial, as acting for themselves. There are many Thousands constantly in the World, who have not lived one Month, or Week, or Day, since they have arrived to any Period that can be assigned from their Birth to Twenty Years of Age. And if there be not a strong Propensity in Man's Nature to Sin, that should as it were hurry them on to speedy Transgression,& they have no Guilt previous to their personal Sinning, what should hinder but that there might always be a greater Number of such as act for themselves on the Stage of the World, and are answerable for themselves to God, who have hitherto kept themselves free from Sin, and have perfectly obeyed God's Law, and so are righteous in God's Sight with the Righteousness of the Law; and if they should be called out of the World without any longer Trial (as innumerable die at all Periods of Life) would be justified by the Deeds of the Law? And how then can it be true, that in God's Sight no Man living can be justified, that no Man can be just with God, and that by the Deeds of the Law no Flesh can be justified, because by the Law is the Knowledge of Sin? And what should hinder but that there may always be many in the World, who are capable Subjects of Instruction and Counsel, and of Prayer to God, for whom the Calls of God's Word to Repentance, and to seek Pardon through' the Blood of Christ, and to forgive others their Injuries, because they need that God should forgive them, would not be proper; and for whom the Lord's Prayer […] t