N06399:226
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.
After the Return from the Captivity, and God had built the Jewish Church again in their own Land, by a series of wonderful Providences; yet they corrupted themselves •••in, to so great a Degree, that the Transgressors ⟨p. 91⟩were come the full again in the Days of Antiochus Epiphanes; as the Matter is represented in the Prophecy of Daniel, Dan. viii. 28. And then God made them the Subjects of a Dispensation, little, if any Thing, less terrible, than that which had been in Nebuchadnezzar's Days. And after God had again delivered 'em, and restored the State of Religion among them, by the Instrumentality of the Maccabees, they degenerated again; So that when Christ came, they were arrived to that extreme Degree of Corruption, which is represented in the Accounts given by the Evangelists.
It may be observed here in general, that the Jews, tho' so vastly distinguished with Advantages, Means and Motives to Holiness, yet are represented as coming, from Time to Time, to that Degree of Corruption and Guilt, that they were more wicked, in the Sight of God, than the very worst of the Heathen. As, of old, God sware by his Life, that the Wickedness of Sodom was small, compared with that of the Jews. Ezek. xvi. 47, 48, &c. also Chap. v. 5.—10. So, Christ speaking of the Jews, in his Time, represents 'em as having much greater Guilt than the Inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, or even Sodom and Gomorrah.
But we are now come to the Time when the grandest Scene was displayed, that ever was opened on Earth. After all other Schemes had been so long and so thoroughly tried, and had so greatly failed of Success, both among Jews and Gentiles; that wonderful Dispensation was at length introduced, which was the greatest Scheme for the suppressing and restraining Iniquity among Mankind, that ever infinite Wisdom and Mercy contrived; even the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. A new Dispensation of Grace was erected (to use Dr. T—r's own Words, P. 239, 240) for the more certain, and effectual Sanctification of Mankind, into the Image of God; the delivering them from Sin and Wickedness, into which they might fall, or were already fallen; to redeem 'em from all Iniquity, and bring 'em to the Knowledge