N06399:187
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 7
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.
The same inspired Writer says, Eccle•. ix. 3. The Heart of the Sons of Men is full of Evil; and Madness is in their Heart while they live; and after that they go to the dead. If these general Expressions are to be understood only of some, and those the lesser Part, when in general, Truth, Honesty, Good-Nature, &c. govern the World, why are such general Expressions from Time to Time used? Why don't this wise and noble, and great-souled ⟨p. 70⟩Prince express himself in a more generous and benevolent Strain, as well as more agreeable to Truth, and say, Wisdom is in the Hearts of the Sons of Men while they live, &c.—in Stead of leaving in his Writings so many sly, ill-natured Suggestions, which pour such Contempt on the human Nature, and tend so much to excite mutual Jealousy and Malevolence, to taint the Minds of Mankind through' all Generations after him?
The same inspired Writer says, Eccle•. ix. 3. The Heart of the Sons of Men is full of Evil; and Madness is in their Heart while they live; and after that they go to the dead. If these general Expressions are to be understood only of some, and those the lesser Part, when in general, Truth, Honesty, Good-Nature, &c. govern the World, why are such general Expressions from Time to Time used? Why don't this wise and noble, and greatsoul'd ⟨p. 70⟩Prince express himself in a more generous and benevolent Strain, as well as more agreeable to Truth, and say, Wisdom is in the Hearts of the Sons of Men while they live, &c.—in Stead of leaving in his Writings so many sly, ill-natur'd Suggestions, which pour such Contempt on the human Nature, and tend so much to excite mutual Jealousy and Malevolence, to taint the Minds of Mankind thro' all Generations after him?
If we consider the various successive Parts and Periods of the Duration of the World, it will, if possible, be yet more evident, that vastly the greater Part of Mankind have in all Ages been of a wicked Character. The short Accounts we have of Adam and his Family are such as lead us to suppose, that far the greater Part of his Posterity, in his Life-time, yea, in the former Part of his Life, were Wicked. It appears, that his eldest Son, Cain, was a very wicked Man, who slew his righteous Brother Abel. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty Years before Seth was born: And by that Time, we may suppose, his Posterity began to be considerably numerous: When he was born, his Mother called his Name Seth; for God, said She, hath appointed me another Seed, in Stead of Abel. Which naturally suggests this to our Thoughts; That of all her Seed now existing, none were of any such Note for Religion and Virtue, as that their Parents could have any great Comfort in them, or Expectation from 'em on that Account. And by the brief History we have, it looks as if (however there might be some Intervals of a Revival of Religion, yet) in the general, Mankind grew more and more corrupt till the Flood. 'Tis signified, that when Men began to multiply on the Face of the Earth, Wickedness prevailed exceedingly,