N06399:411
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 2
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.
Very remarkable is that Place, Job xv. 14, 15, 16. What is Man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a Woman, that he should be righteous? Behold, he putteth no Trust in his •aints; yea, the Heavens are not clean in his Sight: How much more abominable and filthy is Man, which drinketh Iniquity like Water? And no less remarkable is our Author's Method of managing of it. The 16th v. expresses an exceeding Degree of Wickedness, in as plain and emphatical Terms, almost, as can be invented; every Word representing this in the strongest Manner: How much more abominable and filthy is Man, that drinketh Iniquity like Water? I can't now recollect, where we have a Sentence equal to it, in the whole Bible, for an emphatical, lively & strong Representation of great Wickedness of Heart. Any one of the Words, as such Words are used in Scripture, would represent great Wickedness: If it had been only said, How much more abominable is Man? Or, How much more filthy is Man? Or, Man drinketh Iniquity.—But all these are accumulated, with the Addition of—like Water,—the further to represent the Boldness or Greediness of Men, in Wickedness: Tho' Iniquity be the most deadly Poison, yet Men drink it as boldly as they drink Water, are as familiar with it as with their common Drink, and drink it with like Greediness, as he that is thirsty drinks Water. That Boldness & Eagerness ⟨p. 194⟩in persecuting the Saints, by which the great Degree of the Depravity of Man's Heart often appears, is represented thus (Psal. xiv. 4.) Have the Workers of Iniquity no Knowledge, who eat up my People, "as they eat Bread?" And the greatest Eagerness of Thirst is represented by thirsting as an Animal thirsts after Water, Psal. X•ii. 1.
Now let us see the soft, easy, light Manner, in which Dr. T. treats this Place. P. 143. How much more abominable and filthy is Man, IN COMPARISON OF THE DIVINE PURITY, "who drinketh Iniquity like Water"? Who is attended with so many sensual Appetites, and so apt to indulge them. You see the Argument; Man in his present weak, and fleshly State, cannot be clean before God. Why so? Because he is conceived and born in Sin, by Reason of Adam's Sin? No such thing. But because the purest Creatures are not pure in Comparison of God. Much less a Being subject to so many INFIRMITIES, as a MORTAL Man. Which is a Demonstration to Me, not only, that Job and his Friends did not intend to establish the Doctrine we are now examining, but that they were wholly Strangers to it. Thus this Author endeavours to reconcile this Text with his Doctrine of the perfect native Innocence of Mankind: In which we have a notable Specimen of his Demonstrations, as well as of that great Impartiality and Fairness in examining and expounding the Scripture, which he makes so often a Profession of.