N06399:702
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.
As I said before, All Oneness in created Things, whence Qualities and Relations are derived, depends on a divine Constitution that is arbitrary, in every other Respect, excepting that it is regulated by divine Wisdom. The Wisdom, which is exercised in these Constitutions, appears in these two Things. First, In a beautiful Analogy and Harmony with other Laws or Constitutions, especially relating to the same Subject: and Secondly, in the good Ends obtained, or useful Consequences of such a Constitution. If therefore there be any Objection still lying against this Constitution with Adam and his Posterity, it must be, that it is not sufficiently wise in these Respects. But what extreme Arrogance would it be in us, to take upon us to act as Judges of the Beauty and Wisdom of the Laws and established Constitutions of the supreme Lord and Creator of the Universe?—And not only so, but if this Constitution, ⟨p. 349⟩in particular, be well considered, it's Wisdom, in the two forementioned Respects, may easily be made evident. There is an apparent manifold Analogy to other Constitutions and Laws, established and maintained through the whole System of vital Nature in this lower World; all Parts of which, in all Successions, are derived from the first of the Kind, as from their Root, or Fountain; each deriving from thence all Properties and Qualities, that are proper to the Nature & Capacity of the Kind, or Species: No Derivative having any one Perfection (unless it be what is merely circumstantial) but what was in it's Primitive. And that Adam's Posterity should be without that original Righteousness, which Adam had lost, is also analogous to other Laws and Establishments, relating to the Nature of Mankind; according to which, Adam's Posterity have no one Perfection of Nature, in any Kind, superior to what was in him, when the human Race began to be propagated from him.
As I said before, All Oneness in created Things, whence Qualities and Relations are derived, depends on a divine Constitution that is arbitrary, in every other Respect, excepting that it is regulated by divine Wisdom. The Wisdom, which is exercised in these Constitutions, appears in these two Things. First, In a beautiful Analogy and Harmony with other Laws or Constitutions, especially relating to the same Subject: and Secondly, in the good Ends obtain'd, or useful Consequences of such a Constitution. If therefore there be any Objection still lying against this Constitution with Adam and his Posterity, it must be, that it is not sufficiently wise in these Respects. But what extreme Arrogance would it be in us, to take upon us to act as Judges of the Beauty and Wisdom of the Laws and established Constitutions of the supreme Lord and Creator of the Universe?—And not only so, but if this Constitution,