THE GREAT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE ORIGINAL SIN DEFENDED. PART I. Wherein are confidered some Evidences of Original Sin from Facts and Events, as found by Obfervation and Experience, together with Representations and Testimonies of holy Scripture, and the Confeffion and Assertions of Oppofers. CHAP. I. The Evidence of Original Sin from what appears in Fact of the Sinfulness of Mankind. SECT. I. All Mankind do constantly, in all Ages, without Fail in any one Instance, run into that moral Evil, which is in Effect their own utter and eternal Perdition, in a total Privation of GOD's Favour, and Suffering of his Vengeance and Wrath. Y Original Sin, as the Phrafe has been B moft commonly used by Divines, is meant the innate finful Depravity of the Heart. But yet when the Doctrine of Original Sin is fpoken of, it is vulgarly underftood B ftood in that Latitude, as to include not only the Depravity of Nature, but the Imputation of Adam's first Sin; or in other Words, the Liableness or Exposedness of Adam's Pofterity, in the divine Judgment, to partake of the Punishment of that Sin. So far as I know, most of those who have held one of these, have maintained the other; and most of those who have opposed one, have opposed the other: both are opposed by the Author chiefly attended to in the following Difcourse, in his Book againft Original Sin: And it may perhaps appear in our future Confideration of the Subject, that they are closely connected, and that the Arguments which prove the one establish the other, and that there are no more Difficulties attending the allowing of one than the other. I shall, in the first Place, consider this Doctrine more especially with regard to the Corruption of Nature; and as we treat of this, the other will naturally come into Confideration, in the Profecution of the Discourse, as connected with it. As all moral Qualities, all Principles either of Virtue or Vice, lie in the Disposition of the Heart, I shall confider whether we have any Evidence, that the Heart of Man is naturally of a corrupt and evil Disposition. This is strenuously denied by many late Writers, who are Enemies to the Doctrine of Original Sin; and particularly by Dr. Taylor. The Way we come by the Idea of any fuch Thing as Difpofition or Tendency, is by observing what is conftant or general in Event; especially under a great Variety of Circumstances; and above all, when the Effect or Event continues the same through through great and various Opposition, much and manifold Force and Means used to the contrary not prevailing to hinder the Effect. - I do not know, that such a Prevalence of Effects is denied to be an Evidence of prevailing Tendency in Causes and Agents; or that it is expressly denied by the Oppofers of the Doctrine of Original Sin, that if, in the Course of Events, it universally or generally proves that Mankind are actually corrupt, this would be an Evidence of a prior corrupt Propensity in the World of Mankind; whatever may be faid by some, which, if taken with its plain Consequences, may seem to imply a Denial of this; which may be confidered afterwards. But by many the Fact is denied, that is, it is denied, that Corruption and moral Evil are commonly prevalent in the World: On the contrary, it is infifted on, that Good preponderates, and that Virtue has the Afcendant. To this Purpose Dr. Turnbull fays *, " With regard to the Prevalence of Vice in the World, " Men are apt to let their Imagination run out upon all the Robberies, Pyracies, Murders, Per"juries, Frauds, Massacres, Assassinations they " have either heard of, or read in Hiftory; thence ६८ concluding all Mankind to be very wicked. As " if a Court of Justice were a proper Place to " make an Eftimate of the Morals of Mankind, or an Hofpital of the Healthfulness of a Climate, "But ought they not to confider, that the Num 66 ber of honeft Citizens and Farmers far furpasses "that of all Sorts of Criminals in any State, and "that the innocent and kind Actions of even Cri.... ६८ minals themselves furpafs their Crimes in Num"bers B2 • Moral Philes. p. 289, 290. 66 66 65 66 "bers; that it is the Rarity of Crimes, in Comparison of innocent or good Actions, which engages our Attention to them, and makes them to be recorded in Hiftory, while honeft, generous domeftic Actions are overlooked, only " because they are so common? As one great Danger, or one Month's Sickness shall become " a frequently repeated Story during a long Life " of Health and Safety. - Let not the Vices of "Mankind be multiplied or magnified. Let us " make a fair Eftimate of human Life, and fet " over-against the shocking, the astonishing In"stances of Barbarity and Wickedness that have " been perpetrated in any Age, not only the exceeding generous and brave Actions with which History shines, but the prevailing Innocency, Good"Nature, Industry, Felicity, and Chearfulness of the greater Part of Mankind at all Times; and we shall not find Reason to cry out, as Objectors against Providence do on this Occafion, that all " Men are vastly corrupt, and that there is hardly any such Thing as Virtue in the World. Upon a fair Computation, the Fact does indeed come out, that very great Villanies have been very uncommon in all Ages, and looked upon as " monstrous; so general is the Sense and Esteem " of Virtue." - It seems to be with a like View that Dr. T. says, "We must not take the Measure " of our Health and Enjoyments from a Lazar" House, nor of our Understanding from Bedlam, 66 66 66 66 nor of our Morals from a Goal." (p. 77. S.) With respect to the Propriety and Pertinence of fuch a Reprefentation of Things, and its Force as to the Confequence designed, I hope we shall be better able to judge, and in some Measure to determine, whether the natural Disposition of the Hearts |