N06399:731
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 4
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.
3. If our Author would have us suppose, that it is contrary to the Attribute of Goodness, for God, in any Case, by an immediate Act of his Power, to cause Existence, and to cause new Existence, which shall be an exceeding miserable Existence, by Reason of Exposedness to eternal Ruin; then his own Scheme must be supposed contrary to the Attribute of God's Goodness: for he supposes, that God will raise Multitudes from the dead at the last Day (which will be giving new Existence to their Bodies, & to bodily Life and Sense) in Order only to their suffering eternal Destruction.
4. Notwithstanding we are so sinful and miserable, as we are by Nature, yet we may have great Reason to bless God, that he has given us our Being under so glorious a Dispensation of Grace through Jesus Christ; by which we have a happy Opportunity to be delivered from this Sin and Misery, and to obtain unspeakable eternal Happiness.—And because, through our own wicked Inclinations, we are disposed so to neglect & abuse this Mercy, as to fail of final Benefit by it, this is no Reason why we ought not to be thankful for it, even according to our Author's own Sentiments. What (says He*) if the whole World lies in Wickedness, and few therefore shall be saved? Have Men no Reason to be thankful, because they are wicked and ungrateful, and abuse their Being and God's Bounty?—Suppose, our own evil Inclinations do with-hold us [viz. from seeking after Happiness, which under the Light of the Gospel we are placed within the nearer and easier Reach of] suppose, the whole Christian World should lie in Wickedness, and but few Christians should be saved; is it therefore certainly true, that we cannot reasonably thank God for the Gospel? Well, & though the ⟨p. 362⟩evil Inclination, which hinder our seeking and obtaining Happiness by so glorious an Advantage, are what we are born with, yet if those Inclinations are our Fault or Sin, that alters not the Case: and to say, they are not our Sin, is still begging the Question. Yea, it will follow from several Things asserted by our Author, put together, that notwithstanding Men are born in such Circumstances, as that they are under a very great Improbability of ever becoming righteous, yet they may have Reason to be thankful for their Being. Thus, particularly, those that were born and lived among the Heathen, before Christ came. For Dr. T. asserts, that all Men have Reason of Thankfulness for their Being; and yet he supposes, that the Heathen World, taken as a collective Body, were dead in Sin, and could not deliver or help themselves, and therefore stood in Necessity of the Christian Dispensation. And not only so, but he supposes, that the Christian World is now at length brought to the like deplorable and helpless Circumstances, and needs a new Dispensation for its Relief; as I observed before. According to these Things, the World in general, not only formerly, but even at this Day, are dead in Sin, and helpless as to their Salvation;