N06399:205
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.
And now let us observe the Consequence.—These new and extraordinary Means, in Addition to the former, were so far from proving sufficient, that the new World degenerated, and became corrupt, by such swift Degrees, that, as Dr. T. observes, Mankind in general were sunk into Idolatry, in about 400 Years after the Flood, and so in about 50 Years after Noah's Death: They became so wicked and brutish, as to forsake the true God, and turn to the Worship of inanimate Creatures.
When Things were come to this dreadful Pass, God was pleased, for a Remedy, to introduce a new and wonderful Dispensation; separating a particular Family and People, from all the rest of the World, by a Series of most astonishing Miracles, done in the open View of the World; and fixing their Dwelling, as it were in the Midst of the Earth, between Asia, Europe and Africa, and in the Midst of those Nations which were most considerable and famous for Power, Knowledge and Arts; that God might, in an extraordinary Manner, dwell amongst that People, in visible Tokens of his Presence, manifesting himself there, and from thence to the World, by a Course of great and miraculous Operations and Effects, for many Ages: that that People might be holy to God, and as a Kingdom of Priests, and might stand as a City on an Hill, to be a Light to the World: withal gradually shortening Man's Life, till it was brought to be but about one twelfth Part of what it used to be before the Flood; and so, according to Dr. T.—vastly cutting off and diminishing his Temptations to Sin, and increasing his Excitements to Holiness.—And now let us consider what the Success ⟨p. 80⟩of these Means was, both as to the Gentile World, and the Nation of Israel.
When Things were come to this dreadful Pass, God was pleased, for a Remedy, to introduce a new and wonderful Dispensation; separating a particular Family and People, from all the rest of the World, by a Series of most astonishing Miracles, done in the open View of the World; and fixing their Dwelling, as it were in the Midst of the Earth, between Asia, Europe and Africa, and in the Midst of those Nations which were most considerable and famous for Power, Knowledge and Arts; that God might, in an extraordinary Manner, dwell amongst that People, in visible Tokens of his Presence, manifesting himself there, and from thence to the World, by a Course of great and miraculous Operations and Effects, for many Ages: that that People might be holy to God, and as a Kingdom of Priests, and might stand as a City on an Hill, to be a Light to the World: withal gradually shortning Man's Life, till it was brought to be but about one twelfth Part of what it used to be before the Flood; and so, according to Dr. T.—vastly cutting off and diminishing his Temptations to Sin, and increasing his Excitements to Holiness.—And now let us consider what the Success