N06399:264
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.
After many Ages of general and dreadful Apostasy, God was pleased to erect the Protestant Church, as separated from the more corrupt Part of Christendom; and true Piety flourished very much in it at first; God planted it a noble Vine: But notwithstanding the good Examples of the first Reformers, what a melancholy Past is the Protestant World come to at this Day?
After many Ages of general and dreadful Apostacy, God was pleased to erect the Protestant Church, as separated from the more corrupt Part of Christendom; and true Piety flourished very much in it at first; God planted it a noble Vine: But notwithstanding the good Examples of the first Reformers, what a melancholy Past is the Protestant World come to at this Day?
When England grew very corrupt, God brought over a Number of pious Persons, & planted 'em in New-England, and this Land was planted with a noble Vine. But how is the Gold become dim! How greatly have we forsaken the pious Examples of our Fathers!
So prone have Mankind always proved themselves to Degeneracy, and bent to Backsliding. Which shows plainly their natural Propensity; and that when Good had revived, and been promoted among Men, it has been by some divine Interposition, to oppose the natural Current; the Fruit of some extraordinary Means, the Efficacy of which has soon been overcome by constant natural Bias, and the Effect of good Example presently lost, and Evil has regained and maintained the Dominion: Like an heavy Body, which may by some great Power be caused to ascend, against it's Nature, a little while, but soon goes back again towards the Centre, to which it naturally and constantly tends.
So prone have Mankind always proved themselves to Degeneracy, and bent to Backsliding. Which shews plainly their natural Propensity; and that when Good had revived, and been promoted among Men, it has been by some divine Interposition, to oppose the natural Current; the Fruit of some extraordinary Means, the Efficacy of which has soon been overcome by constant natural Biass, and the Effect of good Example presently lost, and Evil has regain'd and maintain'd the Dominion: Like an heavy Body, which may by some great Power be caused to ascnd, against it's Nature, a little while, but soon goes back again towards the Center, to which it naturally and constantly tends.