N06399:270
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.
But it is utterly impossible to conceive of greater Benefits, that we could have by the Virtues ⟨p. 114⟩of any Person, than we have by the virtuous Acts of Christ; who depend upon being thereby saved from eternal Destruction, and brought to inconceivable immortal Glory at God's right Hand. Surely if it were not for an extreme Corruption of the Heart of Men, such an Example would have that strong Influence on the Heart, that would as it were swallow up the Power of all the evil and hateful Examples of a Generation of Vipers.
But it is utterly impossible to conceive of greater Benefits, that we could have by the Virtues ⟨p. 114⟩of any Person, than we have by the virtuous Acts of Christ; who depend upon being thereby saved from eter••l Destruction, and brought to inconceivable immortal Glory at God's right Hand. Surely if it were not for an extreme Corruption of the Heart of Men, such an Example would have that strong Influence on the Heart, that would as it were swallow up the Power of all the evil and hateful Examples of a Generation of Vipers.
3. The Influence of bad Example, without Corruption of Nature, will not account for Children's universally committing Sin as soon as capable of it; which, I think, is a Fact that has been made evident by the Scripture. It will not account for this, in the Children of eminently pious Parents; the first Examples, that are set in their View, being very good; which, as has been observed, was especially the Case of many Children in Christian Families in the Apostles Days, when the Apostle John supposes that every individual Person had Sin to repent of, and confess to God.