N06399:682
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.
1. 'Tis reasonable to suppose, that Adam was as likely, on Account of his Capacity and natural Talents, to persevere in Obedience, as his Posterity (taking one with another) if they had all been put on the Trial singly for themselves. And supposing, that there was a constituted Union or Oneness of him and his Posterity, and that he stood as a public Person, or common Head, all by this Constitution would have been as sure to partake of the Benefit of his Obedience, as of the ill Consequence of his Disobedience, in Case of his Fall.
1. 'Tis reasonable to suppose, that Adam was as likely, on Account of his Capacity and natural Talents, to persevere in Obedience, as his Posterity (taking one with another) if they had all been put on the Trial singly for themselves. And supposing, that there was a constituted Union or Oneness of him and his Posterity, and that he stood as a publick Person, or common Head, all by this Constitution would have been as sure to partake of the Benefit of his Obedience, as of the ill Consequence of his Disobedience, in Case of his Fall.
2. There was a greater Tendency to a happy Issue, in such an Appointment, than if every one had been appointed to stand for himself; especially on two Accounts.
(1.) That Adam had stronger Motives to Watchfulness, than his Posterity would have had; in that not only his own eternal Welfare lay at Stake, but also that of all his Posterity. (2.) Adam was in a State of complete Manhood, when his Trial began. It was a Constitution very agreeable to the Goodness of God, considering the State of Mankind, which was to be propagated in the Way of Generation, that their first Father should be appointed to stand for all For by Reason of the Manner of their coming into Existence in a State of Infancy, and their coming so gradually to mature State, and so remaining for a great while in a State of Childhood and comparative Imperfection, after they were become moral Agents, they would be less fit to stand for themselves, than their first Father to stand for them.