N06399:158
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.
That Men should forsake the true God for Idols, in an Evidence of the most astonishing Folly and Stupidity, by God's own Testimony. Jer. ii. 13. Be astonished, O ye Heavens, at this, and be ye horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord: For my People have committed two Evils; They have forsaken me the Fountain of living Waters, and have hewed out to themselves Cisterns, broken Cisterns, that can hold no Water. And that Mankind in general did thus, so soon after the Flood, was from the evil Propensity of their Hearts, and because they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge; as is evident by Rom. i. 28.—And the Universality of the Effect shows that the Cause was universal, and not any Thing belonging to the particular Circumstances of one, or only some Nations or Ages, but something belonging to that Nature that is common to all Nations, and that remains the same through' all Ages. And what other Cause could this great Effect possibly arise from, but a depraved Disposition, natural to all Mankind? It could not arise from Want of a sufficient Capacity or Means of Knowledge. This is in Effect confessed on all Hands. Dr. Turnbull, (Chris. Phil. P. 21.) says as follows; The Existence of one infinitely powerful, wise and good Mind, the Author, Creator, Upholder and Governor of all Things, is a Truth that lies plain and obvious to all that will but think. And (Ibid. P. 245.) Moral Knowledge, which is the most important of all Knowledge, may easily be acquired by all Men. And again, (Ibid. P. 292.) Every Man by himself, if he would duly employ his Mind, in the Contemplation of the Works of God about him, or in the Examination of his own Frame,—might make very great Progress in the Knowledge of the Wisdom and Goodness of God. This all Men, generally speaking, might do, with very little Assistance; for they have all sufficient Abilities for thus employing their Minds, and have all sufficient Time for it. Mr. Locke says, (Hum. Und. B. IV. Chap. iv. P. 242. Edit. 11.) Our own Existence, ⟨p. 52⟩and the sensible Parts of the Universe, offer the Proofs of a Deity so clearly and cogently to our Thoughts, that I deem it impossible for a considerate Man to withstand them.
That Men should forsake the true God for Idols, in an Evidence of the most astonishing Folly and Stupidity, by God's own Testimony.