N06399:140
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 5
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.
These things may help us to form some Judgment, how vastly the Generality of Mankind fall below their Duty, with respect to Love to God; yea, how far they are from coming half-way to that Height of Love, which is agreeable to the Rule of Right. Surely if our Esteem of God, Desires after him, and Delight in him were such as become us, considering the Things forementioned, they would exceed our Regard to other Things, as the Heavens are high above the Earth, and would swallow up all other Affections, like a Deluge. But how far, how exceeding far, are the Generality of the World from any Appearance of being influenced and governed by such a Degree of divine Love as this!
These things may help us to form some Judgment, how vastly the Generality of Mankind fall below their Duty, with respect to Love to God; yea, how far they are from coming half-way to that Height of Love, which is agreable to the Rule of Right. Surely if our Esteem of God, Desires after him, and Delight in him were such as become us, considering the Things foremention'd, they would exceed our Regard to other Things, as the Heavens are high above the Earth, and would swallow up all other Affections, like a Deluge. But how far, how exceeding far, are the Generality of the World from any Appearance of being influenced and governed by such a Degree of divine Love as this!
If we consider the Love of God with respect to that one Kind of Exercise of it, namely, Gratitude, how far indeed do the Generality of Mankind come short of the Rule of Right and Reason in this! If we consider how various, innumerable and vast the Benefits are we receive from God, and how infinitely great and wonderful that Grace of his is, which is revealed and offered to them that live under the Gospel, in that eternal Salvation which is procured by God's giving his only begotten Son to die for Sinners; and also how unworthy we are all, deserving (as Dr. T. confesses) eternal Perdition under God's Wrath and Curse, how great is the Gratitude, that would become us, who are the Subjects of so many and great Benef•••, and have such Grace towards poor sinful lost Mankind set before us in so affecting a Manner, as in the extreme Sufferings of the Son of God, being carried through' those Pains by a Love stronger than Death, a Love that conquered those mighty Agonies a Love whose Length and Breadth and Depth and Height passes Knowledge? But oh, what poor Returns—! How little the Gratitude! How low, how cold and inconstant the Affection is the best, compared with the Obligation! And what then shall be said of the Gratitude of the Generality? Or rather, who can express the Ingratitude?