N06399:249
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.
From these things it is plain, that what is alleged concerning the first Sin of Adam, and of the Angels, without a previous fixed Disposition to Sin, can't in the least injure or weaken the Arguments which have been brought to prove a fixed Propensity to Sin in Mankind in their present State. The Thing which the Permanence of the Cause has been argued from, is the Permanence of the Effect. And that the permanent Cause consists in an internal fixed Propensity, and not any particular external Circumstances, has been argued from the Effect's being the same, through' a vast Variety and Change of Circumstances. Which Things don't take Place with respect to the first Act of Sin that Adam or the Angels were guilty of; which first Acts, considered in themselves, were no permanent continued Effects. And tho' a great Number of the Angels sinned, and the Effect on that Account was the greater, and more extensive; yet this Extent of the Effect is a very different Thing from that Permanence, or settled Continuance of the Effect, which is supposed to show a permanent Cause, or fixed Influence or Propensity. Neither was there any Trial of a vast Variety of Circumstances attending a permanent Effect, to show the fixed Cause to be internal, consisting in a settled Disposition of Nature, in the Instances objected. And however great the Sin of Adam, or of the Angels, was, and however great Means, Motives and Obligations they sinned against; whatever may be thence argued concerning the transient Cause, Occasion ⟨p. 105⟩or Temptation, as being very subtle, remarkably tending to deceive and seduce, or otherwise great; yet it argues nothing of any settled Disposition, or fixed Course at all, either great or small; the Effect both in the Angels, and our first Parents, being in it self transient, and for ought appears, happening in each of them, under one System or Coincidence of influential Circumstances.
From these things it is plain, that what is alledged concerning the first Sin of Adam, and of the Angels, without a previous fix'd Disposition to Sin, can't in the least injure or weaken the Arguments which have been brought to prove a fix'd Propensity to Sin in Mankind in their present State. The Thing which the Permanence of the Cause has been argued from, is the Permanence of the Effect. And that the permanent Cause consists in an internal fix'd Propensity, and not any particular external Circumstances, has been argued from the Effect's being the same, thro' a vast Variety and Change of Circumstances. Which Things don't take Place with respect to the first Act of Sin that Adam or the Angels were guilty of; which first Acts, considered in themselves, were no permanent continued Effects. And tho' a great Number of the Angels sin'd, and the Effect on that Account was the greater, and more extensive; yet this Extent of the Effect is a very different Thing from that Permanence, or settled Continuance of the Effect, which is supposed to shew a permanent Cause, or fix'd Influence or Propensity. Neither was there any Trial of a vast Variety of Circumstances attending a permanent Effect, to shew the fix'd Cause to be internal, consisting in a settled Disposition of Nature, in the Instances objected. And however great the Sin of Adam, or of the Angels, was, and however great Means, Motives and Obligations they sin'd against; whatever may be thence argued concerning the transient Cause, Occasion