N06399:265
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.
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 asc•nd, against it's Nature, a little while, but soon goes back again towards the Center, to which it naturally and constantly tends.
So that evil Example will in no wise account for the Corruption of Mankind, without supposing a natural […] to Sin. The Tendency of Example alone will not account for general wicked Practice, as consequent on good Example. And if the Influence of bad Example is a Reason of some of the Wickedness that is in the World, that alone will not account for Men's becoming worse than the Example set, and degenerating more and more, and growing worse and worse, which has been the Manner of Mankind.