N06399:557
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 2
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.
What has been already observed, may suffice to show the Apostle's general Scope in this Place. But yet there seem to be some other Things, which he has his Eye to, in several Expressions; some particular things in the then present State, Temper and Notions of the Jews, which he also had before spoken of, or had Reference to, in certain Places of the foregoing Part of the Epistle. As particularly, ⟨p. 275⟩the Jews had a very superstitious and extravagant Notion of their Law, delivered by Moses; as if it were the prime, grand, and indeed only Rule of God's Proceeding with Mankind, as their Judge, both in Men's Justification & Condemnation, or from whence all, both Sin and Righteousness, was imputed; and had no Consideration of the Law of Nature, written in the Hearts of the Gentiles, and of all Mankind. Herein they ascribed infinitely too much to their particular Law, beyond the true Design of it. They made their Boast of the Law; as if their being distinguished from all other Nations by that great Privilege, the giving of the Law, sufficiently made 'em a holy People, and God's Children. This Notion of theirs the Apostle evidently refers to, Chap. ii. 13, 17.—19. and indeed through' that whole Chapter. They looked on the Law of Moses as intended to be the only Rule & Means of Justification; and as such, trusted in the Works of the Law, especially Circumcision: which appears by the iiid Chapter. But as for the Gentiles, they looked on them as by Nature Sinners, and Children of Wrath; because born of uncircumcised Parents, and Aliens from their Law, and who themselves did not know, profess and submit to the Law of Moses, become Proselytes, and receive Circumcision. What they esteemed the Sum of their Wickedness and Condemnation was, that they did not turn Jews, and act as Jews. *This Notion of their's the Apostle has a plain Respect to, and endeavours to convince them of the Falseness of, in Chap. ii. 12,—16. And he has a manifest Regard again to the same Thing here, in the 12, 13, & 14th Verses of Chap. uth. Which may lead us the more clearly to see the true Sense of those Verses; about the Sense of which is the main Controversy, & the Meaning of which being determined, it will settle the Meaning of every other controverted Expressions through the whole Discourse.
What has been already observed, may suffice to shew the Apostle's general Scope in this Place. But yet there seem to be some other Things, which he has his Eye to, in several Expressions; some particular things in the thenpresent State, Temper and Notions of the Jews, which he also had before spoken of, or had Reference to, in certain Places of the foregoing Part of the Epistle. As particularly,