N06399:65
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 1 › Chapter 1 › 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.
But for the greater Clearness, it may be proper here to premise one Consideration, that is of great Importance in this Controversy, and is very much overlooked by the Opposers of the Doctrine of original Sin in their disputing against it; which is this—
But for the greater Clearness, it may be proper here to premise one Consideration, that is of great Importance in this Controversy, and is very much overlook'd by the Opposers of the Doctrine of original Sin in their disputing against it; which is this—
That is to be looked upon as the true Tendency of the natural or innate Disposition of Man's Heart, which appears to be it's Tendency when we consider Things as they are in themselves, or in their own Nature, without the Interposition of divine Grace. Thus, that State of Man's Nature, that Disposition of the Mind, is to be looked upon as evil and pernicious, which, as it is in it self, tends to extremely pernicious Consequences. and would certainly end therein, were it not that the free Mercy and Kindness of God interposes to prevent that Issue. It would be very strange if any should argue that there is no evil Tendency in the Case, because the mere Favour and Compassion of the most High may step in and oppose the Tendency, and prevent the sad Effect-tended to. Particularly, if there be any Thing in the Nature of Man, whereby he has an universal, unfailing Tendency to that moral Evil, which according ⟨p. 5⟩to the real Nature and true Demerit of Things, as they are in themselves, implies his utter Ruin, That must be looked upon as an evil Tendency or Propensity; however divine Grace may interpose, to save him from deserved Ruin, and to over-rule Things to an Issue contrary to that which they tend to of themselves. Grace is a sovereign Thing, exercised according to the good Pleasure of God, bringing Good out of Evil; The Effect of it belongs not to the Nature of Things themselves, that otherwise have an ill Tendency, any more than the Remedy belongs to the Disease; but is something altogether independent on it, introduced to oppose the natural Tendency, and reverse the Course of Things. But the Event that Things tend to, according to their own Demerit, and according to divine Justice, That is the Event which they tend to in their own Nature; as Dr. T—r's own Words fully imply (Pref. to Par. on Rom. p. 187.) God alone (says he) can declare whether he will pardon on punish the Ungodliness & Unrighteousness of Mankind, which is in IT'S OWN NATURE punishable. Nothing is more precisely according to the Truth of Things, than divine Justice: It weighs Things in an even Balance; it views and estimates Things no otherwise than they are truly in their own Nature. Therefore undoubtedly that which implies a Tendency to Ruin according to the Estimate of divine Justice, does indeed imply such a Tendency in it's own Nature.