N06399:379
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 3
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.
If this Part of the Sentence was pronounced under no Notion of any Curse […] punishment at all upon Mankind, but on the contrary, […] an Alteration in the Ground, that should be for the •etter, as to them; that in Stead ⟨p. 177⟩of the sweet, but tempting, pernicious Fruits of Paradise, it might produce wholesome Fruits, more for the Health of the Soul; that it might bring forth Thorns & Thistles, as excellent Medicines, to prevent or cure mortal Distempers, Diseases which would issue in eternal Death; I say, if what was pronounced was under this Notion, then it was a Blessing on the Ground and not a Curse; and it might more properly have been said, 'BLESSED shall the Ground be for thy sake,—I will make a happy Change in it, that it may be a Habitation more fit for a Creature so infirm, and so apt to be overcome with Temptation, as thou art.'
If this Part of the Sentence was pronounced under no Notion of any Curse 〈…〉 punishment at all upon Mankind, but on the contrary, 〈…〉 an Alteration in the Ground, that should be for the •etter, as to them; that in Stead ⟨p. 177⟩of the sweet, but tempting, pernicious Fruits of Paradise, it might produce wholsome Fruits, more for the Health of the Soul; that it might bring forth Thorns & Thistles, as excellent Medicines, to prevent or cure mortal Distempers, Diseases which would issue in eternal Death; I say, if what was pronounced was under this Notion, then it was a Blessing on the Ground and not a Curse; and it might more properly have been said, 'BLESSED shall the Ground be for thy sake,—I will make a happy Change in it, that it may be a Habitation more fit for a Creature so infirm, and so apt to be overcome with Temptation, as thou art.'
The Event makes it evident, that in pronouncing this Curse, God had as much Respect to Adam's Posterity, as to himself: And so it was understood by his pious Posterity, before the Flood; as appears by what Lamech, the Father of Noah, says,