The Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University

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Front Matter The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended Contents Editor's Introduction 1. The New England Controversy on Original Sin 2. Edwards' Life and Literary Sources 3. Exposition of Arguments The Fact and Nature of Sin The Cause and Transmission of Sin God the Author of Sin Miscellaneous Arguments Answered 4. Edwards' Sources John Taylor (1694–1761) George Turnbull (1698–1748) Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746) John Locke (1632–1704) Henry Winder (1693–1752) Other Authors 5. Notes on the Manuscripts and Text 6. Reception and Evaluations of the Original Sin

The Author's Preface

Part One: Wherein Are Considered some Evidences of Original Sin from Facts and Events, as Found by Observation and Experience, together with Representations and Testimonies of Holy Scripture, and the Confession and Assertions of Opposers Chapter I: The evidence of original sin from what appears in fact of the sinfulness of mankind Section 1. 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 favor and suffering of his vengeance and wrath Section 2. It follows from the proposition proved in the foregoing section, that all mankind are under the influence of a prevailing effectual tendency in their nature, to that sin and wickedness, which implies their utter and eternal ruin Section 3. That propensity which has been proved to be in the nature of all mankind, must be a very evil, depraved and pernicious propensity; making it manifest that the soul of man, as it is by nature, is in a corrupt, fallen and ruined state: which is the other part of the consequence, drawn from the proposition laid down in the first section Section 4. The depravity of nature appears by a propensity in all to sin immediately, as soon as they are capable of it, and to sin continually and progressively; and also by the remains of sin in the best of men Section 5. The depravity of nature appears, in that the general consequence of the state and tendency of man's nature is a much greater degree of sin, than righteousness; not only with respect to value and demerit, but matter and quantity Section 6. The corruption of man's nature appears by its tendency, in its present state, to an extreme degree of folly and stupidity in matters of religion Section 7. That man's nature is corrupt, appears, in that vastly the greater part of mankind, in all ages, have been wicked men Section 8. The native depravity of mankind appears, in that there has been so little good effect of so manifold and great means, used to promote virtue in the world Section 9. Several evasions of the arguments for the depravity of nature, from trial and events, considered Chapter II: Universal mortality proves original sin; particularly the death of infants, with its various circumstances

Part Two: Containing Observations on Particular Parts of the Holy Scripture, Which Prove the Doctrine of Original Sin Chapter I: Observations relating to things contained in the three first chapters of Genesis, with reference to the doctrine of original sin Section 1. Concerning original righteousness: and whether our first parents were created with righteousness or moral rectitude of heart? Section 2. Concerning the kind of death, threatened to our first parents, if they should eat of the forbidden fruit Section 3. Wherein it is inquired, whether there be anything in the history of the three first chapters of Genesis, which should lead us to suppose, that God, in his constitution with Adam, deal with mankind in general, as included in their first father, and that the threatening of death, in case he should eat the forbidden fruit, had respect not only to him, but his posterity? Chapter II: Observations on other parts of the holy Scriptures, chiefly in the Old Testament, that prove the doctrine of original sin Chapter III: Observations on various other places of Scripture, principally of the New Testament, proving the doctrine of original sin Section 1. Observations on John 3:6 in connection with some other passages in the New Testament Section 2. Observations on Romans 3:9–24 Section 3. Observations on Romans 7 Chapter IV: Containing observations on Romans 5:12 to the end Section 1. Remarks on Dr. Taylor's way of explaining this text Section 2. Some observations, on the connection, scope and sense of this remarkable paragraph in Romans V; with some reflections on the evidence, which we here have, of the doctrine of original sin

Part Three: Observing the Evidence Given Us, Relative to the Doctrine of Original Sin, in what the Scriptures Reveal Concerning the Redemption by Christ Chapter I: The evidence of original sin from the nature of redemption, in the procurement of it Chapter II: The evidence of the doctrine of original sin from what the Scripture teaches of the application of redemption

Part Four: Containing Answers to Objections Chapter I: Concerning that objection, that to suppose men's being born in sin, without their choice, or any previous act of their own, is to suppose what is inconsistent with the nature of sin Chapter II: Concerning that objection against the doctrine of native corruption, that to suppose men receive their first existence in sin, is to make him who is the Author of their being, the Author of their depravity Chapter III: That great objection against the imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity considered, that such imputation is unjust and unreasonable, inasmuch as Adam and his posterity are not one and the same. With a brief reflection subjoined, on what some have supposed, of God's imputing the guilt of Adam's sin to his posterity, but in an infinitely less degree, than to Adam himself Chapter IV: Wherein several other objections are considered Conclusion