N06399:677
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 4 › Chapter 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.
The first Existence of an evil Disposition of Heart, amounting to a full Consent to Adam's Sin, no more infers God's being the Author of that evil Disposition in the Child, than in the Father. The first Arising or Existing of that evil Disposition in the Heart of Adam, was ⟨p. 331⟩by God's Permission; who could have prevented it, if he had pleased, by giving such Influences of his Spirit, as would have been absolutely effectual to hinder it: which, it is plain in Fact, he did with-hold: and whatever Mystery may be supposed in the Affair, yet no Christian will presume to say, it was not in perfect Consistence with God's Holiness and Righteousness, notwithstanding Adam had ⟨p. 332⟩been guilty of no Offence before. So Root and Branches being one, according to God's wise Constitution, the Case in Fact is, that by virtue of this Oneness answerable Changes or Effects through all the Branches co-exist with the Changes in the Root: consequently an evil Disposition exists in the Hearts of Adam's Posterity, equivalent to that which was exerted in his own Heart, when he eat the forbidden Fruit. Which God has no Hand in, any otherwise, than in not exerting such an Influence, as might be effectual to prevent it; as appears by what was observed in the former Chapter.
But now the grand Objection is against the Reasonableness of such a Constitution, by which Adam and his Posterity should be looked upon as One, and dealt with accordingly, in an Affair of such infinite Consequence; so that if Adam sinned, they must necessarily be made Sinners by his Disobedience, and come into Existence with the same Depravity of Disposition, and be looked upon and treated as th• they were Partakers with Adam in his Act of Sin.—I have not Room here to rehearse all Dr. T—r's vehement Exclamations against the Reasonableness and Justice of this. The Reader may at his Leisure consult his Book, and see them in Places referred to in the Margin. *