N06399:527
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 4 › 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.
The Words, Justification and Righteousness, are explained by Dr. T. in a no less unreasonable Manner. He understands Justification in v. 18th, and Righteousness in v. 19th,—in such a Sense, as to suppose 'em to belong to all, and actually to be applied to all Mankind, good and bad, Believers & Unbelievers; to the worst Enemies of God, remaining such, as well as his peculiar Favourites, & many that never had any Sin imputed to 'em; meaning thereby no more than what is fulfilled in an universal Resurrection from the Dead, at the last Day.* Now this is a most arbitrary, forced Sense. Th• these Terms are used every where, all over the New Testament, yet nothing like such an Use of 'em is to be found, in any one Instance, through' all the Writings of the Apostles & Evangelists. The Words, Justify, Justification, and Righteousness, as from God to Men, are never used but to signify a Privilege belonging only to some, and that which is peculiar to distinguished Favourites. This Apostle in particular, above all the other Writers of the new Testament, abounds in the Use of these Terms; so that we have all imaginable Opportunity to understand his Language, and know the Sense in which he uses these Words: But he never elsewhere uses 'em in the Sense supposed here, nor is there any Pretence that he does. Above all, does this Apostle […] in the Use of these Terms in this Epistle. JUSTIFICATION is the Subject he had been upon through all the pr•c••ding Part of the Epistle. It was the grand Subject of all the foregoing Chapters, and the preceding Part of this Chapter; where these Terms are continually repeated. And the Word, Justification, is constantly used to signify something peculiar to Believers, who had been Sinners; implying some Reconciliation and Forgiveness of Sin, and special Privilege in Nearness to God, above the rest of the World. Yea, the Word is constantly used thus, according ⟨p. 257⟩to Dr. T—r's own Explanations, in his Paraphrase and Notes on this Epistle. And there is not the least Reason to suppose but that he is still speaking of the same Justification and Righteousness, which he had dwelt upon from the Beginning, to this Place. He speaks of Justification and Righteousness here, just in the same Manner, as he had done in the preceding Part of the Epistle.