N06399:482
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.
Another Passage of the Apostle, to the like Purpose with that which we have been considering in the 5th of Romans, ⟨p. 230⟩is that in Eph. ii. 3.—And were by Nature Children of Wrath, even as others. This remains a plain Testimony to the Doctrine of original Sin, as held by those that used to be called orthodox Christians, after all the Pains and Art used to torture and pervert it. This Doctrine is here not only plainly and fully taught, but abundantly so, if we take the Words with the Context; where Christians are once and again represented as being, in their first State, dead in Sin, and as quickened, and raised up from such a State of Death, in a most marvellous Display of the free and rich Grace and Love, and exceeding Greatness of the Power of God, &c.
With respect to those Words [Greek or Hebrew] We were by Nature Children of Wrath, Dr. T. says (P.112, 113, 114.) The Apostle means no more by this, than truly or really Children of Wrath; using a metaphorical Expression, borrowed from the Word that is used to signify a true and genuine Child of a Family, in Distinction from one that is a Child only by Adoption: To express this we say, he is by Nature a Child. In which 'tis owned, that the proper Sense of the Phrase is being a Child by Nature, in the same Sense as a Child by Birth or natural Generation; but only he supposes, that here the Word is used metaphorically. The Instance he produces as parallel, to confirm his supposed metaphorical Sense of the Phrase, as meaning only truly, really or properly Children of Wrath, viz. the Apostle Paul's calling Timothy his own Son in the Faith, [Greek or Hebrew] is so far from confirming his Sense, that it is rather directly against it. For doubtless the Apostle uses the Word [Greek or Hebrew] in it's original Signification here, meaning his begotten Son; [Greek or Hebrew] being the Adjective from [Greek or Hebrew] Off spring, or the Verb [Greek or Hebrew] to beget; as much as to say, Timothy my begotten Son in the Faith; only allowing for the two Ways of being begotten, spoken of in the new Testament, one natural, and the other spiritual; one being the first Generation, the other Regeneration; the one a being begotten as to the human Nature, the other a being begotten