On Original Sin in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - XI - Chapter 4 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 Chapter 4 of Part IV.

My summary.

Edwards now finishes the work by answering some final objections to the doctrine of original sin.

The objections are:

(i) that at the restoration of the world after the flood, God pronounced equivalent or greater blessings on Noah and his sons, than he did on Adam at his creation, when he said, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, &c.;

(ii) that it disparages the divine goodness in giving us our being; which we ought to receive with thankfulness, as a great gift of God's beneficence, and look upon as the first, original, and fundamental fruit of the divine liberality;

(iii) that Scripture reveals of the process of the day of judgment; which represents the judge as dealing with men singly and separately, rendering to every man according to his deeds, and according to the improvement he has made of the particular powers and talents God has given him personally;

(iv) that though in Scripture, action is frequently said to be imputed, reckoned, accounted to a person, it is no other than his own act and deed;

(v) that little children are made patterns of humility, meekness, and innocence;

(vi) that it pours contempt upon the human nature;

(vii) that it tends to beget in us an ill opinion of our fellow-creatures, and so to promote ill-nature and mutual hatred;

(viii) that it tends to hinder comfort and joy, and to promote melancholy and gloominess of mind.;

(ix) that to make men believe that wickedness belongs to their very nature, tends to encourage them in sin;

(x) that it would be unlawful to beget children;

(xi) that the doctrine is no oftener, and no more plainly, spoken of in Scripture.

What grabbed me

I enjoyed Edwards' reply to the notion that the doctrine of original sin should be rejected because it promotes a hatred of humanity: 

'Another objection, which some have made against this doctrine, much like the former, is, that it tends to beget in us an ill opinion of our fellow-creatures, and so to promote ill-nature and mutual hatred.

To which I would say, if it be truly so, that we all come sinful into the world, then our heartily acknowledging it, tends to promote humility: but our disowning that sin and guilt which truly belongs to us, and endeavouring to persuade ourselves that we are vastly better than in truth we are, tends to a foolish self-exaltation and pride. And it is manifest, by reason, experience, and the word of God, that pride is the chief source of all the contention, mutual hatred, and ill-will which are so prevalent in the world; and that nothing so effectually promotes the contrary tempers and deportments, as humility. This doctrine teaches us to think no worse of others, than of ourselves: it teaches us, that we are all, as we are by nature, companions in a miserable helpless condition; which under a revelation of the divine mercy, tends to promote mutual compassion. And nothing has a greater tendency to promote those amiable dispositions of mercy, forbearance, long-suffering, gentleness, and forgiveness, than a sense of our own extreme unworthiness and misery, and the infinite need we have of the divine pity, forbearance, and forgiveness, together with a hope of obtaining mercy. If the doctrine which teaches that mankind are corrupt by nature, tends to promote ill-will, why should not Dr. T.'s doctrine tend to it as much? For he teaches us, that the generality of mankind are very wicked, having made themselves so by their own free choice, without any necessity: which is a way of becoming wicked, that renders men truly worthy of resentment; but the other, not at all, even according to his own doctrine.'

A proper understanding our sinfulness is actually beneficial!

Next week's reading

Read the Preface 'A treatise concerning religious affections'.

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