N06399:689
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.
Some Things, being most simply considered, are entirely distinct, and very diverse; which yet are so united by the established Law of the Creator, in some Respects and with Regard to some Purposes and Effects, that by Virtue of that Establishment it is with them as if they were One. Thus a Tree, grown great, and an hundred Years old, is One Plant with the little Sprout, that first came out of the Ground, from whence it grew, and has been continued in constant Succession; though it's now so exceeding diverse, many Thousand Times bigger, and of a very different Form, ⟨p. 338⟩and perhaps not one Atom the very same: Yet God, according to an established Law of Nature, has in a constant Succession communicated to it many of the same Qualities, and most important Properties, as if it were One. It has been his Pleasure, to constitute an Union in these Respects, and for these Purposes, naturally leading us to look upon all as One.—So the Body of Man at forty Years of Age, is one with the Infant-Body which first came into the World, from whence it grew; tho' now constituted of different Substance, and the greater Part of the Substance probably changed Scores (if not hundreds) of Times: and tho' it be now in so many Respects exceeding diverse, yet God, according to the Course of Nature, which he has been pleased to establish, has caused, that in a certain Method it should communicate with that infantile Body, in the same Life, the same Senses, the same Features, and many the same Qualities, and in Union with the same Soul; and so, with regard to these Purposes, 'tis dealt with by him as one Body. Again, the Body and Soul of a Man are one, in a very different Manner, & for different Purposes. Considered in themselves, they are exceeding different Beings, of a Nature as diverse as can be conceived; and yet, by a very peculiar divine Constitution or Law of Nature, which God has been pleased to establish, they are strongly united, and become One, in most important Respects; a wonderful mutual Communication is established; so that both become different Parts of the same Man. But the Union and mutual Communication they have, has Existence, and is entirely regulated and limited, according to the sovereign Pleasure of God, and the Constitution he has been pleased to establish.
Some Things, being most simply considered, are intirely distinct, and very diverse; which yet are so united by the established Law of the Creator, in some Respects and with Regard to some Purposes and Effects, that by Virtue of that Establishment it is with them as if they were One. Thus a Tree, grown great, and an hundred Years old, is One Plant with the little Sprout, that first came out of the Ground, from whence it grew, and has been continued in constant Succession; thô it's now so exceeding diverse, many Thousand Times bigger, and of a very different Form,