N06399:430
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.
One thing is particularly observable in that Discourse of the Apostle, in the 7th and 8th of Romans, in which he so often uses the Term Flesh, as opposite to Spirit, which as well as many other things in his Discourse, makes it plain, that by Flesh he means something in itself corrupt and sinful; and that is, that he expressly calls it sinful Flesh, Rom. viii. 3. 'Tis manifest, that by sinful Flesh ⟨p. 203⟩he means the same Thing with that Flesh spoken of in the immediately foregoing and following Words, and in all the Context: And that when it is said, Christ was made in the Likeness of sinful Flesh, the Expression is equipollent with those that speak of Christ as made Sin, & made a Curse for us.
One thing is particularly observable in that Discourse of the Apostle, in the 7th and 8th of Romans, in which he so often uses the Term Flesh, as opposite to Spirit, which as well as many other things in his Discourse, makes it plain, that by Flesh he means something in itself corrupt and sinful; and that is, that he expresly calls it sinful Flesh, Rom. viii. 3. 'Tis manifest, that by sinful Flesh ⟨p. 203⟩he means the same Thing with that Flesh spoken of in the immediately foregoing and following Words, and in all the Context: And that when it is said, Christ was made in the Likeness of sinful Flesh, the Expression is equipollent with those that speak of Christ as made Sin, & made a Curse for us.
Flesh and Spirit are opposed one to another in Gal. v. in the same Manner as in the 8th of Romans: And there, by Flesh cannot be meant only the human Nature of Body and Soul, or the mere Constitution and Powers of a Man, as in its natural State, innocent and right. In the 16th v. the Apostle says, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh: where the Flesh is spoken of as a Thing of an evil Inclination, Desire or Lust. But this is more strongly signified in the next Words; For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the Flesh; and these are contrary one to another. What could have been said more plainly, to show that what the Apostle means by Flesh, is something very evil in its Nature, and an irreconcilable Enemy to all Goodness? And it may be observed, that in these Words, and those that follow, the Apostle still figuratively represents the Flesh as a Person or Agent, desiring, acting, having Lusts, and performing Works. And by Works of the Flesh, and Fruits of the Spirit, which are opposed to each other, from v. 19. to the End, are plainly meant the same as Works of a sinful Nature, and Fruits of a holy renewed Nature. Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Heresies, &c.—But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, &c. The Apostle, by Flesh, don't mean any thing that is innocent and good in itself, that only needs to be restrained, and kept in proper Bounds; but something altogether Evil, which is to be destroyed, and not only restrained.