N06399:329
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.
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": *And, just for the same Reason, he could not do right, without an Inclination to right Action. And as he was obliged to act right from the first Moment of his Existence, and did do so, 'till he sinned in the Affair of the forbidden Fruit, he must have an Inclination or Disposition of Heart to do right the first Moment of his Existence; and that is the same as to be created, or brought into Existence, with an Inclination to right Action, or, which is the same Thing, a virtuous and holy Disposition of Heart.