N06399:332
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 are no invented Quibbles, or Sophisms. If God expected of Adam any Obedience or Duty to him at all, when he first made him, whether it was in reflecting, considering, or any way exerting the Faculties he had given him, then God expected he should immediately exercise Love and Regard to Him. For how could it be expected, that Adam should have a strict and perfect Regard to God's Commands and Authority, and his Duty to Him, when he had no Love nor Regard to Him in his Heart, nor could it be expected he should have any? If Adam from the Beginning did his Duty to God, and had more Respect to the Will of his Creator, than to other Things, and as much Respect to him as he ought to have; then from the Beginning he had a supreme and perfect Respect and Love to God: And if so, he was created with such a Principle. There is no avoiding the Consequence. Not only external ⟨p. 156⟩Duties, but internal Duties, such as summarily consist in Love, must be immediately required of Adam, as soon as he existed, if any Duty at all was required. For 'tis most apparently absurd, to talk of a spiritual Being, with the Faculties of Understanding and Will, being required to perexternal Duties, without internal. Dr.T. himself, observes, that Love is the fulfilling of the Law, and that all moral Rectitude, even every Part of it, must be resolved into that single Principle. Therefore, if any morally right Act at all, Reflection, Consideration, or any thing else, was required of Adam immediately, on his first Existence, and was performed as required; then he must, the first Moment of his Existence, have his Heart possessed of that Principle of divine Love; which implies the whole of moral Rectitude in every Part of it, according to our Author's own Doctrine; and so the whole of moral Rectitude or Righteousness must begin with his Existence: which is the Thing taught in the Doctrine of original Righteousness.
These are no invented Quibbles, or Sophisms. If God expected of Adam any Obedience or Duty to him at all, when he first made him, whether it was in reflecting, considering, or any way exerting the Faculties he had given him, then God expected he should immediately exercise Love and Regard to Him. For how could it be expected, that Adam should have a strict and perfect Regard to God's Commands and Authority, and his Duty to Him, when he had no Love nor Regard to Him in his Heart, nor could it be expected he should have any? If Adam from the Beginning did his Duty to God, and had more Respect to the Will of his Creator, than to other Things, and as much Respect to him as he ought to have; then from the Beginning he had a supreme and perfect Respect and Love to God: And if so, he was created with such a Principle. There is no avoiding the Consequence. Not only external