THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. T HE following Discourse is intended, not merely as an Answer to any particular Book written against the Doctrine of Original Sin, but as a general Defence of that great important Doctrine. Nevertheless, I have in this Defence taken Notice of the main Things said against this Doctrine, by such of the more noted Oppofers of it, as I have had Opportunity to read; particularly those two late Writers, Dr. TURNBULL, and Dr. TAYLOR of Norwich; but especially the latter, in what he has published in those two Books of his, the first intitled, The Scripture-Doctrine of Original Sin proposed to free and candid Examination; The other, his Key to the Apostolic Writings, with a Paraphrafe and Notes on the Epistle to the Romans. I have closely attended to Dr. TAYLOR'S Piece on Original Sin, in all its Parts, and have endeavoured that no one Thing there faid, of any Consequence in this Controversy, should pass unnoticed, or that any Thing which has the Appearance of an Argument, in Opposition to this Doctrine, should be left unanswered. I look on the Doctrine as of great Importance; which every Body will doubtless own it is, if it be true. For, if the Cafe be such indeed, that all Mankind are by Nature in a State of total Ruin, both with respect to the moral Evil they are the Subjects of, and the afflictive Evil they are exposed to, the one as the Confequence and Punishment of the other, then doubtless the great Salvation tion by CHRIST stands in direct Relation to this Ruin, as the Remedy to the Disease; and the whole Gospel, or Doctrine of Salvation, must suppose it, and all real Belief, or true Notion of that Gospel, must be built upon it. Therefore, as I think the Doctrine is most certainly both true and important, I hope, my attempting a Vindication of it, will be candidly interpreted; and that what I have done towards its Defence, will be impartially confidered, by all that will give themselves the Trouble to read the enfuing Difcourse: in which it is designed to examine every Thing material throughout the Doctor's whole Book, and many Things in that other Book of Dr. T-r's, containing his Key and Exposition on Romans; as also many Things written in Opposition to this Doctrine by fome other modern Authors. And moreover, my Difcourse being not only intended for an Answer to Dr. TAYLOR, and other Opposers of the Doctrine of Original Sin, but (as was observed above) for a general Defence of that Doctrine; producing the Evidence of the Truth of the Doctrine, as well as answering Objections made against it:-confidering these Things, I say, I hope this Attempt of mine will not be thought needless, nor be altogether useless, notwithstanding other Publications on this Subject. I would also hope, that the Extensiveness of the Plan of the following Treatise will excuse the Length of it. And that when it is considered, how much was absolutely requifite to the full executing of a Design formed on such a Plan; how much has been written against the Doctrine of Original Sin, and with what Plausibility; and how ftrong the Prejudices of many are in Favour of what is faid in Opposition to this Doctrine; and that it can not not be expected, any Thing short of a full Confideration of almost every Argument advanced by the main Oppofers, especially by this late and specious Writer, Dr. TAYLOR, will fatisfy many Readers; and also, how much must unavoidably be faid in order to a full handling of the Arguments in Defence of the Doctrine; and how important the Doctrine must be, if true; I say, when fuch Circumstances as these are confidered, I trust, the Length of the following Discourse will not be thought to exceed what the Cafe really required. However, this must be left to the Judgment of the intelligent and candid Reader. Stockbridge, May 26, 1757. The Editor has taken the Liberty of striking out a few Things from the Preface and the Account of the Author, the better to adapt them to the European Reader; and has altered all the References, so as to suit them to the last London Editions of Dr. T-r's Books; whereas Mr. EDWARDS made use of the Irish. ADVERTISEMENT. When the Page is referred to in this Manner p. 40. p. 50. without mentioning the Book, thereby is to be understood such a Page in Dr. TAYLOR'S Scripture-Doctrine of Original Sin. S. intends the Supplement. When the Word, Key, is used to fignify the Book referred to, thereby is to be understood Dr. Taylor's KEY to the Apostolic Writings. This Mark [§] with Figures or a Number annexed, signifies such a Section or Paragraph in his Key. When after mentioning Preface to Par. on Epift. to Romans, there is subjoined p. 145, 47. or the like, thereby is intended Page and Paragraph, page 145, Paragraph 47. The Letter T. alone, is used to fignify Dr. TAYLOR'S Name, and no other. THE
THE WHEREIN HEREIN are confidered some Evidences of Ori- CHAP. Ι. SECT. I. All Mankind do constantly, in all Ages, with- out Fail in any one Instance, run into that moral Evil, which is in Effect their own utter and eternal Perdition, SECT. II. It follows from the Proposition proved in the foregoing Section, that all Mankind are under the In- fluence of a prevailing effectual Tendency in their Nature, b SECT, SECT. III. That Propensity, which has been proved to be ✓ in the Nature of all Mankind, must be a very evil, de- praved, and pernicious Propensity; making it manifest, that the Soul of Man, as it is by Nature, is in a cor- rupt, fallen, and ruined State: Which is the other Part of the Consequence, drawn from the Proposition laid down in the first Section. SECT. IV. The Depravity of Nature appears by a Pro- penfity in all, to fin immediately, as foon as they are ca- pable of it, and to fin continually and progressovely; and also by the Remains of Sin in the best of Men. p. 40--46. SECT. V. The Depravity of Nature appears, in that the general Confequence of the State and Tendency of Man's Nature is a much greater Degree of Sin, than Righteous- ness; not only with Respect to Value and Demerit, but likewife to Matter and Quantity. SECT. VI. The Corruption of Man's Nature appears by SECT. VII. That Man's Nature is corrupt, appears, in SECT. VIII. The native Depravity of Mankind appears, SECT. IX. Several Evasions of the Arguments for Depra- Evasion I. Adam's Nature, and the Nature of the Angels that fell, was not finful, yet they finned; and all Man- |