N06399:391
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.
II. If the Words had implied, that Adam should die that very Day, within 24 or 12 Hours, or that Moment that he transgressed, yet it will by no Means follow, that God obliged himself to execute the Punishment in its utmost Extent on that Day. The Sentence was in great Part executed immediately; he then died spiritually; he lost his Innocence and original Righteousness, and the Favour of God; A dismal Alteration was made in his Soul, by the Loss of that holy divine Principle, which was in the highest Sense the Life of the Soul. In this he was truly ⟨p. 182⟩ruined and undone that very Day; becoming corrupt, miserable and helpless. And I think it has been shown, that such a spiritual Death was one great Thing implied in the Threatening.—And the Alteration then made in his Body and external State, was the Beginning of temporal Death, Grievous external Calamity is called by the Name of Death in Scripture, Exod. x. 17.—Entreat the Lord that he may take away this Death.—Not only was Adam's Soul ruined that Day, but his Body was ruined; it lost it's Beauty and Vigour, and became a poor dull, de••ying, dying Thing. And besides all this, Adam was that Day undone in a more dreadful Sense: He immediately fell under the Curse of the Law, and Condemnation to eternal Perdition. In the Language of Scripture, he is dead, that is in a State of Condemnation to Death; ever as our Author often explains this Language in his Exposition upon Romans. In Scripture-Language, he that believes in Christ, immediately receives Life. He passes at that Time from Death to Life, & thenceforward (to use the Apostle John's Phrase) "has eternal Life abiding in him." But yet he don't then receive eternal Life in it's highest Completion; he has but the Beginnings of it; and receives it in a vastly greater Degree at Death: but the proper Time for the complete Fullness is not till the Day of Judgment. When the Angels sinned, their Punishment was immediately executed in a Degree: But their full Punishment is not till the End of the World. And there is nothing in God's Threatening to Adam, that bound him to execute his full Punishment at once; nor any thing which determines, that he should have no Posterity. The Law or Constitution which God established and declared, determined, that if he sinned, and had Posterity, he and they should die: