N06399:247
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 9
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.
'Tis true, as was observed before, there is no Effect without some Cause, Occasion, Ground or Reason of that Effect, and some Cause answerable to the Effect. But certainly it will not follow from thence, that a transient Effect requires a permanent Cause, or a fixed Influence or Propensity. An Effect's happening once, tho' the Effect may be great, yea, tho' it may come to pass on the same ⟨p. 103⟩Occasion in many Subjects at the same Time, will not prove any fixed Propensity, or permanent Influence. 'Tis true, it proves an Influence great and extensive, answerable to the Effect, once exerted, or once effectual; but it proves Nothing in the Cause fixed or constant. If a particular Tree, or a great Number of Trees standing together, have blasted Fruit on their Branches at a particular Season, yea if the Fruit be very much blasted, and entirely spoiled, it is evident that something was the Occasion of such an Effect at that Time; but this alone don't prove the Nature of the Tree to be bad. But if it be observed, that those Trees, and all other Trees of the Kind, wherever planted, and in all Soils, Countries, Climates and Seasons, and however cultivated and managed, still bear ill Fruit, from Year to Year, and in all Ages, it is a good Evidence of the evil Nature of the Tree: And if the Fruit, at all these Times, and in all these Cases, be very bad, it proves the Nature of the Tree to be very bad. And if we argue in like Manner from what appears among Men, 'tis easy to determine, whether the universal Sinfulness of Mankind, and their all sinning immediately, as soon as capable of it, and all sinning continually, and generally being of a wicked Character, at all Times, in all Ages, and all Places, and under all possible Circumstances, against Means and Motives inexpressibly manifold and great, and in the utmost conceivable Variety, be from a permanent internal great Cause.
'Tis true, as was observed before, there is no Effect without some Cause, Occasion, Ground or Reason of that Effect, and some Cause answerable to the Effect. But certainly it will not follow from thence, that a transient Effect requires a permanent Cause, or a fix'd Influence or Propensity. An Effect's happening once, tho' the Effect may be great, yea, tho' it may come to pass on the same ⟨p. 103⟩Occasion in many Subjects at the same Time, will not prove any fix'd Propensity, or permanent Influence. 'Tis true, it proves an Influence great and extensive, answerable to the Effect, once exerted, or once effectual; but it proves Nothing in the Cause fix'd or constant. If a particular Tree, or a great Number of Trees standing together, have blasted Fruit on their Branches at a particular Season, yea if the Fruit be very much blasted, and entirely spoiled, it is evident that something was the Occasion of such an Effect at that Time; but this alone don't prove the Nature of the Tree to be bad. But if it be observed, that those Trees, and all other Trees of the Kind, wherever planted, and in all Soils, Countries, Climates and Seasons, and however cultivated and managed, still bear ill Fruit, from Year to Year, and in all Ages, it is a good Evidence of the evil Nature of the Tree: And if the Fruit, at all these Times, and in all these Cases, be very bad, it proves the Nature of the Tree to be very bad. And if we argue in like Manner from what appears among Men, 'tis easy to determine, whether the universal Sinfulness of Mankind, and their all sinning immediately, as soon as capable of it, and all sinning continually, and generally being of a wicked Character, at all Times, in all Ages, and all Places, and under all possible Circumstances, against Means and Motives inexpressibly manifold and great, and in the utmost conceivable Variety, be from a permanent internal great Cause.