N06399:198
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 8
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 native Depravity of Mankind appears, in that there has been so little good Effect of so manifold and great Means, used to promote Virtue in the World.
THE Evidence of the native Corruption of Mankind appears much more glaring, when it is considered that the World has been so generally, so constantly, and so exceedingly corrupt, notwithstanding the various, great and continual Means, that have been used to restrain Men from Sin, and promote Virtue and true Religion among them.
Dr. T. supposes, all that Sorrow and Death, which came on Mankind, in Consequence of Adam's Sin, was brought on them by God, in great Favour to them; as a benevolent Father exercising an wholesome Discipline towards his Children; to restrain 'em from Sin, by increasing the Vanity of all earthly Things, to abate their Force to tempt & delude; to induce 'em to be moderate in gratifying the Appetites of the Body; to mortify Pride and Ambition; and that Men might always have before their Eyes a striking Demonstration, that Sin is infinitely hateful to God, by a Sight of That, than which Nothing is more proper to give them the utmost Abhorrence of Iniquity, and to fix in their Minds a Sense of the dreadful Consequences of Sin, &c. &c. And in general, that they don't come as Punishments, but purely as Means to keep Men ⟨p. 77⟩from Vice, and to make them better.—If it be so, surely they are great Means indeed. Here is a mighty Alteration: Mankind, once so easy and happy, healthful, vigorous and beautiful, rich in all the pleasant and abundant Blessings of Paradise, now turned out, destitute, weak and decaying, into a wide barren World, yielding Briars and Thorns, in Stead of the delightful Growth and sweet Fruit of the Garden of Eden, to wear out Life in Sorrow and Toil, on the Ground cursed for his Sake; and at last, either through long Languishing and lingering Decay, or severe Pain and acute Disease, to expire and turn to Putrefaction and Dust. If these are only used as Medicines, to prevent and to cure the Diseases of the Mind, they are sharp Medicines indeed; especially Death; which, to use Hezekiah's Representation, is as it were breaking all his Bones: And one would think, should be very effectual, if the Subject had no Depravity, no evil and contrary Bias, to resist and hinder a proper Effect; especially in the old World, when the Thing which was the first Occasion of this terrible Alteration, this severity of Means, was fresh in Memory; Adam continuing alive near two Thirds of the Time that passed before the Flood;