N06399:570
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.
And then this Supposition of the Apostle's having the Case of Infants in View, in this Expression, makes it more to his Purpose, to mention Death Reigning before the Law of Moses was given. For the Jews looked on all Nations, besides themselves, as Sinners, by Virtue of their Law; being made so especially by the Law of Circumcision, given first to Abraham, and completed by Moses, making the Want of Circumcision a legal Pollution, utterly disqualifying for the Privileges of the Sanctuary. This Law, the Jews supposed, made the very Infants of the Gentiles Sinners, polluted and hateful to God; they being uncircumcised, and born of uncircumcised Parents. But the Apostle proves, against these Notions of the Jews, that the Nations of the World don't become Sinners by Nature, and Sinners from Infancy, by Virtue of their Law, in this Manner, but by Adam's Sin: In-as-much as Infants were treated as Sinners long before the Law of Circumcision was given, as well as before they had committed actual Sin.
And then this Supposition of the Apostle's having the Case of Infants in View, in this Expression, makes it more to his Purpose, to mention Death Reigning before the Law of Moses was given. For the Jews look'd on all Nations, besides themselves, as Sinners, by Virtue of their Law; being made so especially by the Law of Circumcision, given first to Abraham, and compleated by Moses, making the Want of Circumcision a legal Pollution, utterly disqualifying for the Privileges of the Sanctuary. This Law, the Jews supposed, made the very Infants of the Gentiles Sinners, polluted and hateful to God; they being uncircumcis•d, and born of uncircumcised Parents. But the Apostle proves, against these Notions of the Jews, that the Nations of the World don't become Sinners by Nature, and Sinners from Infancy, by Virtue of their Law, in this Manner, but by Adam's Sin: In-as-much as Infants were treated as Sinners long before the Law of Circumci•ion was given, as well as before they had committed actual Sin.
What has been said, may, as I humbly conceive, lead us to that which is the true Scope & Sense of the Apostle in these three Verses; which I will endeavour more briefly to represent in the following Paraphrase.