N06399:423
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 3 › 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.
SECT. I.
Observations on Joh. III. 6. in Connection with some other Passages in the New Testament.
Those Words of Christ, giving a Reason to Nicodemus, why we must be born again, Joh. iii. 6. That which is born of the Flesh, is Flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit; have not without good Reason been produced by Divines, as a Proof of the Doctrine of Original Sin: supposing, that by Flesh here is meant the human Nature in a debased and corrupt State. Yet Dr.T.(P. 144.) thus explains these Words, That which is born of the Flesh, is Flesh; That which is born by natural Descent and Propagation, is a Man consisting of Body and Soul, or the mere Constitution and Powers of a Man, in their natural State. But the constant […] of these Terms, Flesh, and Spirit, in other Parts of the New Testament, when thus set in Opposition one to another, and the latter said to be produced by the Spirit of God, ⟨p. 200⟩as here; and when speaking of the same Thing, which Christ is here speaking of to Nicodemus, viz. the requisite Qualifications to Salvation, this will fully vindicate the Sense of our Divines. Thus in the 7th & 8th Chapters of Romans, where these Terms Flesh, and Spirit ([Greek or Hebrew]and [Greek or Hebrew]) are abundantly repeated, and set in Opposition, as here. So, Chap. vii. 14. The Law is spiritual ([Greek or Hebrew]) but I am carnal, ([Greek or Hebrew]) sold under Sin. He can't only mean, 'I am a Man, consisting of Body and Soul, and having the Powers of a Man.' Ver. 18. I know that in me, that is, in y Flesh, dwelleth no good thing. He don't mean to condemn his Frame, as consisting of Body and Soul; and to assert, that in his human Constitution, with the Powers of a Man, dwells no good thing. And when he says in the last Verse of the Chapter, With the Mind I my self serv the Law of God, but with the Flesh the Law of Sin; He can't mean, 'I my self serve the Law of God; but with my innocent human Constitution, as having the Powers of a Man, I serve the Law of Sin.' And when he says in the next Words, in the Beginning of the 8th Chapter, There is no Condemnation to them—that walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit; and ver. 4. The Righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the Flesh; He can't mean, 'There is no Condemnation to them that walk not according to the Powers of Man,' &c. And when he says, ver. 5,& 6. They that […] after the Flesh, do mind the things of the Flesh;