N06399:190
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.
And as to the Period from the Calling of Abraham to the Coming of Christ, Dr. T. justly observes as follows (Key P. 190.) If we reckon from the Call of Abraham to the Coming of Christ, the Jewish Dispensation continued One Thousand nine Hundred & twenty-one Years: during which Period, the other Families and Nations of the Earth, not only lay out of God's peculiar Kingdom, but also lived in Idolatry, great Ignorance, and Wickedness. And with Regard to that one only exempt Family or Nation of the Israelites, 'tis evident that Wickedness was the generally prevailing Character among them, from Age to Age. If we consider how it was with Jacob's Family, the Behaviour of Reuben with his Father's Concubine, the Behaviour of Judah with Tamar, the Conduct of Jacob's Sons in general (tho' Simeon and Levi were leading) towards the Shechemites, the Behaviour of Joseph's ten Brethren in their cruel ⟨p. 72⟩Treatment of him; we can't think, that the Character of true Piety belonged to many of them, according to Dr. T—r's own Notion of such a Character; tho' it be true, they might afterwards repent.—And with respect to the Time the Children of Israel were in Egypt; the Scripture, speaking of them in general, or as a collective Body, often represents them as complying with the abominable Idolatries of the Country. *And as to that Generation which went out of Egypt, and wandered in the Wilderness; they are abundantly represented as extremely and almost universally wicked, perverse, and Children of divine Wrath.—And after Joshua's Death, the Scripture is very express, that Wickedness was the prevailing Character in the Nation, from Age to Age. So it was till Samuel's Time. 1 Sam. viii. 7, 8. They have rejected me, that I should not reign over them; according to all their Works which they have done, since the Day that I brought them out of Egypt, unto this Day. Yes, so it was till Jeremiah's and Ezekiel's Time. Jer. xxxii. 30, 31. For the Children of Israel, and the Children of Judah, have only done Evil before me from their Youth: for the Children of Israel have only provoked me to Anger with the Work of their Hands, saith the Lord: For this City ▪hath been to me a Provocation of mine Anger, and of my Fury, from the Day they built it, even unto this Day. (Compare Chap. v. 21, and 23. and Chap. vii. 25, 26, 27.) So,