N06399:99
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 1 › Chapter 1 › Section 2
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.
To this I would reply, that such an Evasion will not at all avail to the Purpose of those whom I oppose in this Controversy. It alters not the Case as to this Question, ⟨p. 24⟩Whether Man is not a Creature that in his present State is depraved and ruined by Propensities to Sin. If any Creature be of such a Nature that it proves evil in it's proper Place, or in the Situation which God has assigned it in the Universe, it is of an evil Nature. That Part of the System is not good, which is not good in it's Place in the System; and those inherent Qualities of that Part of the System, which are not good, but corrupt, in that Place, are justly looked upon as evil inherent Qualities. That Propensity is truly esteemed to belong to the Nature of any Being, or to be inherent in it, that is the necessary Consequence of it's Nature, considered together with it's proper Situation in the universal System of Existence, whether that Propensity be good or bad. 'Tis the Nature of a Stone, to be heavy; but yet, if it were placed, as it might be, at a Distance from this World, it would have no such Quality. But seeing a Stone is of such a Nature, that it will have this Quality or Tendency, in it's proper Place, here in this World, where God has made it, 'tis properly looked upon as a Propensity belonging to it's Nature: And if it be a good Propensity here in it's proper Place, then it is a good Quality of it's Nature; But if it be contrariwise, it is an evil natural Quality. So, if Mankind are of such a Nature, that they have an universal effectual Tendency to Sin and Ruin, in this World, where God has made and placed them, this is to be looked upon as a pernicious Tendency belonging to their Nature. There is, perhaps, scarce any such thing in Beings not independent and self-existent, as any Power or Tendency, but what has some Dependence on other Beings, which they stand in some Connection with, in the universal System of Existence: Propensities are no Propensities, any otherwise, than as taken with their Objects. Thus it is with the Tendencies observed in natural Bodies, such as Gravity, Magnetism, Electricity &c. And thus it is with the Propensities observed in the various Kinds of Animals; and thus it is with most of the Propensities in created Spirits.
To this I would reply, that such an Evasion will not at all avail to the Purpose of those whom I oppose in this Controversy. It alters not the Case as to this Question, ⟨p. 24⟩