N06399:475
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 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.
One Reason, why the Jews looked on themselves better than the Gentiles, and called themselves holy and the Gentiles Sinners, was, that they had the Law of Moses. They made their Boast of the Law. But the Apostle shows them, that this was so far from making them better, that it condemned them, and was an Occasion of their being ⟨p. 226⟩Sinners in a higher Degree, and more aggravated Manner, and more effectually and dreadfully dead in and by Sin, Chap vii. 4,—13. agreeable to those Words of Christ, Joh. v. 45.
One Reason, why the Jews looked on themselves better than the Gentiles, and called themselves holy and the Gentiles Sinners, was, that they had the Law of Moses. They made their Boast of the Law. But the Apostle shews them, that this was so far from making them better, that it condemned them, and was an Occasion of their being ⟨p. 226⟩Sinners in a higher Degree, and more aggravated Manner, and more e••ectually and dreadfully dead in and by Sin, Chap vii. 4,—13. agreable to those Words of Christ, Joh. v. 45.
It can't be justly objected here, that this Apostle did indeed use this Language, and call the Gentiles Sinners, in Contradistinction to the Jews, in what he said to Peter, which he himself gives an Account of in Gal. ii. 15,16. We who are Jews by Nature, and not Sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a Man is not justified by the Works of the Law, but by Faith in Jesus Christ. 'Tis true, that the Apostle here refers to this Distinction, as what was usually made by the self-righteous Jews, between themselves and the Gentiles; but not in such a Manner as to adopt, or favour it; but on the contrary, so at plainly to hew his Disapprobation of it; q.d. 'Though we were born Jews, and by Nature are of that People which are wont to make their Boast of the Law, expecting to be justified by it, and trust in themselves that they are righteous, despising others, calling the Gentiles Sinners, in Distinction from themselves; yet we being now instructed in the Gospel of Christ, know better; we now know, that a Man is not justified by the Works of the Law; that we are all justified only by Faith in Christ, in whom there is no Difference, no Distinction of Greek or Gentile, and Jew, but all are one in Christ Jesus.' And this is the very thing, he there speaks of, which he blamed Peter for; that by his withdrawing and separating himself from the Gentiles, refusing to eat with them &c. he had countenanced this self-exalting, self-distinghing, separating Spirit and Custom of the Jews, whereby they treated the Gentiles, as in a distinguishing manner Sinners and Unclean, and not fit to come near them who were a holy People.