N06399:272
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.
4. What Dr. T. supposes to have been Fact with respect to great Part of Mankind, cannot consistently be accounted for from the Influence of bad Example, viz. the State of the Heathen World, which he supposes, considered as a collective Body, was helpless, dead in Sin, and unable to recover it self. Not evil Example alone, no, nor as united with evil Instruction, can be supposed a sufficient Reason why every new Generation that arose among them, should not be able to emerge from the Idolatry and Wickedness of their Ancestors, in any Consistence with his Scheme. The ill Example of Ancestors could have no Power to oblige them to sin, any other Way than as a strong Temptation. But Dr. T. himself says, P. 348. To suppose Men's Temptations to be superior to their Powers, will impeach the Goodness and Justice of God, who appoints every Man's Trial. And as to bad Instructions, as was observed before, he supposes that they all, yea every individual Person, had Light sufficient to know God, and do their whole Duty. And if each one could do this ⟨p. 115⟩for Himself, then surely they might all be agreed in it through' the Power of Free-Will, as well as the whole World be agreed in Corruption by the same Power.
4. What Dr. T. supposes to have been Fact with respect to great Part of Mankind, cannot consistently be accounted for from the Influence of bad Example, viz. the State of the Heathen World, which he supposes, considered as a collective Body, was helpless, dead in Sin, and unable to recover it self. Not evil Example alone, no, nor as united with evil Instruction, can be supposed a sufficient Reason why every new Generation that arose among them, should not be able to emerge from the Idolatry and Wickedness of their Ancestors, in any Consistence with his Scheme. The ill Example of Ancestors could have no Power to oblige them to sin, any other Way than as a strong Temptation. But Dr. T. himself says, P. 348. To suppose Men's Temptations to be superiour to their Powers, will impeach the Goodness and Justice of God, who appoints every Man's Trial. And as to bad Instructions, as was observed before, he supposes that they all, yea every individual Person, had Light sufficient to know God, and do their whole Duty. And if each one could do this ⟨p. 115⟩for Himself, then surely they might all be agreed in it thro' the Power of Free-Will, as well as the whole World be agreed in Corruption by the same Power.