December 12, 2019

Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 - Shedd - XI - Chapter V Original Sin continued

Required reading
Dogmatic Theology Vol 2 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 5 'Original sin' by reading up to the paragraph 'Original sin is to be distinguished from indwelling sin' (page 212 in my edition).

My summary
Today Shedd deals with the second particular of original sin: the corruption of nature resulting from the first sin.

Firstly Shedd insists that the imputation of a corrupt nature is imputed along with the first sin itself - as opposed to those who suggest that only a corrupt nature is imputed.

Secondly Shedd shows the corruption of the:
(i) understanding;
(ii) will.

Most of the discussion is taken up with the corruption of the will.  Shedd is particularly keen to prove the corruption of the inclination as well as the acts of the will.

What grabbed me
It is sobering to consider that we are commanded to have holy inclinations: 'Again, that Edwards held the inclination or disposition of the will to be voluntary agency, is proved by his position that the inclination or disposition is an object either of command or of prohibition. A man is commanded to have a holy inclination, and forbidden to have a sinful one. He is so commanded, when he is commanded to love God with all his heart. Love is inclination. He is prohibited from having a sinful inclination, when he is prohibited from lost in any form. The tenth commandment prohibits a sinful inclination. But commands and prohibitions are addressed to the will, and require or forbid something that is truly voluntary. The following is the phraseology of Edwards upon this point : " The will itself [i.e., the inclination of the will], and not only those actions which are the effects of the will [inclination], is the proper object of precept or command. That is, such or such a state or act of men's wills is in many cases properly required of them by command ; and not merely those alterations in the state of their bodies or minds only that are consequences of volition." '

The corruption of sin within me runs very deep.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 5 'Original sin' by reading up to the paragraph 'Fatalism has been charged upon this doctrine of moral necessity, but erroneously.' (page 231 in my edition).

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

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