N06399:281
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 2
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.
CHAP. II.
Universal Mortality proves Original Sin; particularly the Death of Infants, with it's various Circumstances.
THE universal Reign of Death, over Persons of all Ages indiscriminately, with the awful Circumstances and Attendants of Death, proves that Men come sinful into the World.
It is needless here particularly to enquire, Whether God has not a sovereign Right to set Bounds to the Lives of his own Creatures, be they sinful, or not; and as he gives Life, so to take it away when he pleases? Or how far God has a Right to bring extreme Suffering and Calamity on an innocent moral Agent? For Death, with the Pains and Agonies with which it is usually brought on, is not merely a limiting of Existence, but is a most terrible Calamity; and to such a Creature as Man, capable of conceiving of Immortality, and made with so earnest a Desire after it, and capable of Foresight & of Reflection on approaching Death, and that has such an extreme Dread of it, is a Calamity above all others terrible, to such as ⟨p. 122⟩are able to reflect upon it. I say, 'tis needless, elaborately to consider, whether God may not, consistent with his Perfections, by absolute Sovereignty, bring so great a Calamity on Mankind when perfectly innocent. It is sufficient, if we have good Evidence from Scripture, that 'tis not agreeable to God's Manner of dealing with Mankind, so to do.