On Original Sin in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - X - Chapter 1 and 2 of Part IV

Required reading
The great Christian doctrine of original sin defended in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 1 and 2 of Part IV.

My summary.

Now Edwards proceeds to objections to the doctrine of original sin that he hasn't previously considered.

In Chapter 1, he looks at the charge 'that if we come into the world infected with sinful and depraved dispositions, then sin must be natural to us; and if natural, then necessary; and if necessary, then no sin, nor any thing we are blamable for, or that can in any respect be our fault, being what we cannot help: and he urges, that sin must proceed from our own choice, &c.'

Edwards responds by referring the reader to his other work on the subject but does comment that other great doctrines are clearly subverted by the Arminian notion of freedom and these doctrines are plainly and abundantly taught in the Scripture.

Then in Chapter 2, Edwards focuses on the objection 'that it is highly injurious to the God of our nature, whose hands have formed and fashioned us, to believe our nature to be originally corrupted, and that in the worst sense of corruption'.

Edwards answers that God merely withholds positive influence from humans. Thus 'for God so far to have the disposal of this affair, as to withhold those influences, without which, nature will be corrupt, is not to be the author of sin.'

What grabbed me

I appreciated the description of God's withdrawal of positive influence: 'As, when a subject has once renounced his lawful sovereign, and set up a pretender in his stead, a state of enmity and war against his rightful king necessarily ensues. It were easy to show, how every lust, and depraved disposition of man's heart, would naturally arise from this private original, if here were room for it. Thus it is easy to give an account, how total corruption of heart should follow on man's eating the forbidden fruit, though that was but one act of sin, without God putting any evil into his heart, or implanting any bad principle, or infusing any corrupt taint, and so becoming the author of depravity. Only God's withdrawing, as it was highly proper and necessary that he should, from rebel-man, and his natural principles being left to themselves, is sufficient to account for his becoming entirely corrupt, and bent on sinning against God.'

We are responsible for our corruption, not God.

Next week's reading

Read Chapter 3 of Part IV.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.