N06399:125
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.
as the true Tendency of the Nature of an heavy Body, if Obstacles are removed, is not only to fall with a continual Motion, but with a constantly increasing Motion. And we see, that increasing Iniquity is actually the Consequence of natural Depravity, in most Men, notwithstanding all the Restraints they have. Dispositions to Evil are commonly much stronger in adult Persons, than in Children, when they first begin to act in the World as rational Creatures.
If Sin be such a Thing as Dr. T. himself represents it, P. 69. A Thing of an odious and destructive Nature, the Corruption and Ruin of our Nature, and infinitely hateful to God; then such a Propensity to continual and increasing Sin, must be a very evil Disposition. ⟨p. 38⟩And if we may judge of the Perniciousness of an Inclination of Nature, by the Evil of the Effect it naturally tends to, the Propensity of Man's Nature must be evil indeed: For the Soul being immortal, as Dr. T. acknowledges, P. 370. it will follow from what has been observed above, that Man has a natural Disposition to one of these two Things; either to an Increase of Wickedness without End, or 'till Wickedness comes to be so great, that the Capacity of his Nature will not allow it to be greater. This being what his Wickedness will come to by it's natural Tendency, if divine Grace don't prevent, it may as truly be said to be the Effect which Man's Natural Corruption tends to, as that an Acorn in a proper Soil truly tends by it's Nature to become a great Tree.
If Sin be such a Thing as Dr. T. himself represents it, P. 69. A Thing of an odious and destructive Nature, the Corruption and Ruin of our Nature, and infinitely hateful to God; then such a Propensity to continual and increasing Sin, must be a very evil Disposition. ⟨p. 38⟩And if we may judge of the Perniciousness of an Inclination of Nature, by the Evil of the Effect it naturally tends to, the Propensity of Man's Nature must be evil indeed: For the Soul being immortal, as Dr. T. acknowleges, P. 370. it will follow from what has been observed above, that Man has a natural Disposition to one of these two Things; either to an Increase of Wickedness without End, or 'till Wickedness comes to be so great, that the Capacity of his Nature will not allow it to be greater. This being what his Wickedness will come to by it's natural Tendency, if divine Grace don't prevent, it may as truly be said to be the Effect which Man's Natural Corruption tends to, as that an Acorn in a proper Soil truly tends by it's Nature to become a great Tree.