N06399:279
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.
Evasion V. Seeing Men in this World are in a State of Trial, it is fit that their Virtue should meet with Trials, and consequently that it should have Opposition & Temptation to overcome; not only from without, but from within, in the animal Passions & Appetites we have to struggle with; that by the Conflict and Victory our Virtue may ⟨p. 119⟩be refined & established. Agreeable to this Dr.T. (P. 253.) says, Without a right Use and Application of our Powers, were they naturally ever so perfect, we could not be judged fit to enter into the Kingdom of God.—This gives a good Reason why we are now in a State of Trial and Temptation, viz. to prove and discipline our Minds, to season our Virtue, and to fit us for the Kingdom of God; for which, in the Judgment of infinite Wisdom, we cannot be qualified, but by overcoming our present Temptations. And in P. 354. he says, We are upon Trial, and it is the Will of our Father that our Constitution should be attended with various Passions and Appetites, as well as our outward Condition with various Temptations. He says the like in several other Places. To the same Purpose very often Dr. Turnbull: particularly, Chris. Phil. P. 310. What Merit (says he) except from Combat? What Virtue without the Encounter of such Enemies, such Temptations as arise both from within, and from abroad? To be virtuous, is to prefer the Pleasures of Virtue, to those which come into Competition with it, and Vice holds forth to tempt us; and to dare to adhere to Truth and Goodness, whatever Pains & Hardships it may cost. There must therefore, in Order to the Formation and Trial, in Order to the very Being of Virtue, be Pleasures of a certain Kind to make Temptations to Vice.
In Reply to these Things I would say, either the State of Temptation which is supposed to be ordered for Men's Trial, amounts on the whole to a prevailing Tendency to that State of general Wickedness and Ruin, which has been proved to take Place, or it does not. If it does not amount to a Tendency to such an Effect, then how does it account for it? When it is enquired, by what Cause such an Effect should come to pass, is it not absurd to allege a Cause, which is owned at the same Time to have no Tendency to such an Effect? Which is as much as to confess, that it will not account for it. I think, it has been demonstrated that this Effect must be owing to some prevailing Tendency.