N06399:328
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 2 › Chapter 1 › Section 1
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.
These confused inconsistent Assertions, concerning Virtue and moral Rectitude, arise from the absurd Notions in Vogue, concerning Freedom of Will, as if it consisted in the Will's Self-determining Power, supposed to be necessary to moral Agency, Virtue and Vice. The Absurdities of which, with the Grounds of these Errors, and what the Truth is respecting these Matters, with the Evidences of it, I have, according to my Ability, fully and largely considered, in my Enquiry on that Subject; to which I must refer the Reader, that desires further Satisfaction, and is willing to give himself the Trouble of reading that Discourse.
Having considered this great Argument, and pretended Demonstration of Dr. T—r's against original Righteousness; I proceed to the Proofs of the Doctrine. And in the first Place, I would consider, whether there be not Evidence of it in the three first Chapters of Genesis: Or, whether the History there delivered, don't lead us to suppose, that our first Parents were created in a State of moral Rectitude and Holiness.
1. This History leads us to suppose, Adam's Sin, with Relation to the forbidden Fruit, was the first Sin he committed. Which could not have been, had he not always, till then, been perfectly righteous, righteous from the first ⟨p. 154⟩Moment of his Existence; and consequently, created or brought into Existence righteous. In a moral Agent, subject to moral Obligations, it is the same thing, to be perfectly innocent, as to be perfectly righteous. It must be the same, because there can no more be any Medium between Sin and Righteousness, or between being right and being wrong, in a moral Sense, than there can be a Medium between straight and crooked, in a natural Sense. Adam was brought into Existence capable of acting immediately, as a moral Agent: and therefore he was immediately under a Rule of right Action: he was obliged as soon as he existed, to act right. And if he was obliged to act right as soon as he existed, He was obliged even then to be inclined to act right. Dr. T. says, P. 442. "Adam could not sin without a sinful Inclination":