N06399:484
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 Thing which our Author alleges to evade the Force of this, is, that the Word rendered Nature, sometimes signifies Habit contracted by Custom, or an acquired Nature. But this is not the proper Meaning of the Word. And it is plain, the Word in its common Use, in the new Testament, signifies what we properly express in English by the Word Nature. There is but one Place where there can be the least Pretext for supposing it to be used otherwise; and that is 1 Cor. xi. 14. Doth not even Nature it self teach you, that if a Man have long Hair, it is a Shame unto him? And even here there is, I think, no Manner of Reason for understanding Nature otherwise than in the proper Sense. The Emphasis used, [Greek or Hebrew] Nature IT SELF, shows that the Apostle don't mean Custom, but Nature in the proper Sense. It is true, it was long Custom, that made having the Head covered a Token of Subjection, and a feminine Habit or Appearance; As 'tis Custom that makes any outward-Action or Word a Sign or Signification of any thing: But Nature it self, Nature in its proper Sense, teaches, that it is a Shame for a Man to appear with the established Signs of the female Sex, and with Significations of Inferiority, &c. As Nature it self shows it to be a Shame for a Father to bow down or kneel to his own Child or Servant, or for ⟨p. 232⟩Men to bow to an Idol, because bowing down is by Custom an established Token or Sign of Subjection & Submission: Such a Sight therefore would be unnatural, shocking to a Man's very Nature. So Nature would teach, that 'tis a Shame for a Woman to use such and such lascivious Words or Gestures; tho' it be Custom, that establishes the unclean Signification of those Gestures and Sounds.
Another Thing which our Author alledges to evade the Force of this, is, that the Word render'd Nature, sometimes signifies Habit contracted by Custom, or an acquired Nature. But this is not the proper Meaning of the Word. And it is plain, the Word in its common Use, in the new Testament, signifies what we properly express in English by the Word Nature. There is but one Place where there can be the least Pretext for supposing it to be used otherwise; and that is 1 Cor. xi. 14. Doth not even Nature it self teach you, that if a Man have long Hair, it is a Shame unto him? And even here there is, I think, no Manner of Reason for understanding Nature otherwise than in the proper Sense. The Emphasis used, Nature IT SELF, shews that the Apostle don't mean Custom, but Nature in the proper Sense. It is true, it was long Custom, that made having the Head covered a Token of Subjection, and a feminine Habit or Appearance; As 'tis Custom that makes any outward-Action or Word a Sign or Signification of any thing: But Nature it self, Nature in its proper Sense, teaches, that it is a Shame for a Man to appear with the established Signs of the female Sex, and with Significations of Inferiority, &c. As Nature it self shews it to be a Shame for a Father to bow down or kneel to his own Child or Servant, or for