N06399:155
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 6
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.
'Tis manifest, that Man's Nature in it's present State is attended with a great Propensity to forsake the Acknowledgement and Worship of the true God, and to fall into the most stupid Idolatry. This has been sufficiently proved by known Fact, on abundant Trial: Inasmuch as the World of Mankind in general (excepting one small People, miraculously delivered and preserved) through ⟨p. 50⟩all Nations, in all Parts of the World, Ages after Ages, continued without the Knowledge and Worship of the true God, and overwhelmed in gross Idolatry, without the least Appearance or Prospect of it's recovering it self from so great Blindness, or returning from it's brutish Principles and Customs, 'till delivered by divine Grace.
'Tis manifest, that Man's Nature in it's present State is attended with a great Propensity to forsake the Acknowledgment and Worship of the true God, and to fall into the most stupid Idolatry. This has been sufficiently proved by known Fact, on abundant Trial: Inasmuch as the World of Mankind in general (excepting one small People, miraculouslly delivered and preserved) through ⟨p. 50⟩all Nations, in all Parts of the World, Ages after Ages, continued without the Knowledge and Worship of the true God, and overwhelmed in gross Idolatry, without the least Appearance or Prospect of it's recovering it self from so great Blindness, or returning from it's brutish Principles and Customs, 'till delivered by divine Grace.
In Order to the most just arguing from Fact, concerning the Tendency of Man's Nature, as that is in it self, it should be enquired what the Event has been, where Nature has been left to it self, to operate according to it's own Tendency, with least Opposition made to it by any thing supernatural; rather than in exempt Places, where the infinite Power and Grace of God have interposed, and extraordinary Means have been used to stem the Current, and bring Men to true Religion and Virtue. As to the Means by which God's People of old, in the Line of Abraham, were delivered and preserved from Idolatry, they were miraculous, and of mere Grace: Notwithstanding which, they were often relapsing into the Notions and Ways of the Heathen: and when they had backslidden, never were recovered, but by divine gracious Interposition. And as to the Means by which many Gentile Nations have been delivered, since the Days of the Gospel, they are such as have been wholly owing to most wonderful, miraculous and infinite Grace. God was under no Obligation to bestow on the heathen World greater Advantages than they had in the Ages of their gross Darkness; as appears by the Fact, that God actually did not, for so long a Time, bestow greater Advantages.