N06399:257
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.
Now concerning this Way of accounting for the Corruption of the World, by the Influence of bad Example, I would observe the following Things:
1. 'Tis accounting for the Thing by the Thing itself. It is accounting for the Corruption of the World by the Corruption of the World. For, that bad Examples are general all over the World to be followed by others, & have been so from the Beginning, is only an Instance, or rather a Description of that Corruption of the World which is to be accounted for. If Mankind are naturally no more inclined to Evil than Good, then how comes there to be so many more bad Examples, than good ones, in all Ages? And if there are not, how come that bad Examples that are set, to be so much more followed, than the good? If the Propensity of Man's Nature be not to Evil, how comes the Current of general Example, every where, and at all Times, to be so much to Evil? And when Opposition has been made by good Examples, how comes it to pass that it has had so little Effect to stem the Stream of general wicked Practice?
I think, from the brief Account the Scripture gives us of the Behaviour of the first Parents of Mankind, the Expressions of their Faith and Hope in God's Mercy revealed to them, we have Reason to suppose, that before every they had any Children, they repented, and were pardoned, and became truly pious. So that God planted the World at first with a noble Vine; and at the Beginning of the Generations of Mankind, he set the Stream of Example the right Way. And we see, that Children are more apt to follow the Example of their Parents, than of any others; especially in early Youth, their forming Time, when those Habits are generally contracted, which abide by them all their Days. And besides, Adam's Children had no other Examples to follow, but those of their Parents. How therefore came the Stream so soon to ⟨p. 110⟩