Page images
PDF
EPUB

Now, by way of reflection on the whole, I would observe, that though there are two or three expressions in this paragraph, Rom. v. 12, &c. the design of which is attended with some difficulty and obscurity, as particularly in the 13th and 14th verses, yet the scope and sense of the discourse in general is not obscure, but on the contrary very clear and manifest; and so is the particular doctrine mainly taught in it. The apostle sets himself with great care and pains to make it plain, and precisely to fix and settle the point he is upon. And the discourse is so framed, that one part of it does greatly clear and fix the meaning of other parts; and the whole is determined by the clear connexion it stands in with other parts of the epistle, and by the manifest drift of all the preceding part of it.

The doctrine of Original Sin is not only here taught, but most plainly, explicitly, and abundantly taught. This doctrine is asserted, expressly or implicitly, in almost every verse, and in some of the verses several times. It is fully implied in that first expression in the 12th verse," By one man sin entered into the world." The passage implies, that sin became universal in the world; as the apostle had before largely shewn it was; and not merely (which would be a trifling, insignificant observation) that one man, who was made first, sinned first, before other men sinned; or, that it did not so happen that many men began to sin just together at the same moment. The latter part of the verse," And death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that (or, if you will) unto which) all have sinned," shews, that in the eye of the Judge of the world, in Adam's first sin, all sinned; not only in some sort, but all sinned so as to be exposed to that death, and final destruction, which is the proper wages of sin. The same doctrine is taught again twice over in the 14th verse. It is there observed, as a proof of this doctrine, that "Death reigned over them which had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression ;" i. e. by their personal act; and therefore could be exposed to death, only by deriving guilt and pollution from Adam, in consequence of his sin. And it is taught again in those words, "Who is the figure of him

that was to come." The resemblance lies very much in this circumstance, viz. our deriving sin, guilt, and punishment by Adam's sin, as we do righteousness, justification, and the re ward of life by Christ's obedience; for so the apostle explains himself. The same doctrine is expressly taught again, verse 15. "Through the offence of one, many be dead." And again twice in the 16th verse. "It was by one that sinned;" i. e. it was by Adam, that guilt and punishment (before spoken of) came on mankind: And in these words, "Judgment was by one to condemnation." It is again plainly and fully laid down in the 17th verse," By one man's offence, death reigned by one." So again in the 18th verse," By the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation." Again very plainly in the 19th verse," By one man's disobedience, many were made sinners."

And here is every thing to determine and fix the meaning of all important terms, that the apostle makes use of: As, the abundant use of them in all parts of the New Testament; and especially in this apostle's writings, which make up a very great part of the New Testament: And his repeated use of them in this epistle in particular, especially in the preceding part of the epistle, which leads to and introduces this discourse, and in the former part of this very chapter; and also the light, that one sentence in this paragraph casts on another, which fully settles their meaning: As, with respect to the words justification, righteousness and condemnation; and above all, in regard of the word sin, which is the most important of all, with relation to the doctrine and controversy we are upon. Besides the constant use of this term every where else through the New Testament, through the epistles of this apostle, this epistle in particular, and even the former part of this chapter, it is often repeated in this very paragraph, and evidently used in the very sense that is denied to belong to it in the end of verse 12, and verse 19, though owned every where else: And its meaning is fully determined by the apostle's varying the term; using together with it, to sig nify the same thing, such a variety of other synonymous words, such as offence, transgression, disobedience. And fur

ther, to put the matter out of all controversy, it is particularly and expressly and repeatedly distinguished from that which our opposers would explain it by, viz. condemnation and death. And what is meant by sin's entering into the world, in verse 12, is determined by a like phrase of sin's being in the world, in the next verse. And that by the offence of one, so often spoken of here, as bringing death and condemnation on all, the apostle means the sin of one, derived in its guilt and pollution to mankind in general, is a thing which (over and above all that has been already observed) is settled and determined by those words in the conclusion of this discourse, verse 20. "Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound: But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." These words plainly shew, that the offence spoken of so often, and evidently spoken of still in these words, which was the offence of one man, became the sin of all. For when he says, "The law entered, that the offence might abound," his meaning cannot be, that the offence of Adam, merely as his personally, should abound; but, as it exists in its derived guilt, corrupt influence, and evil fruits, in the sin of mankind in general, even as a tree in its root and branches.*

It is a thing that confirms the certainty of the proof of the doctrine of Original Sin, which this place affords, that the utmost art cannot pervert it to another sense. What a variety

of the most artful methods have been used by the enemies of this doctrine, to wrest and darken this paragraph of holy writ,' which stands so much in their way, as it were to force the Bible to speak a language that is agreeable to their mind! How have expressions been strained, words and phrases rack

The offence, according to Dr. Taylor's explanation, does not abound by the law at all really and truly, in any sense; neither the sin, nor the punishment. For he says, "The meaning is not, that men should be made more wicked; but, that men should be liable to death for every transgression." But after all, they are liable to no more deaths, nor to any worse deaths, if they are not more sinful: For they were to have punishments according to their desert, before. Such as died, and went into another world, before the law of Moses was given, were punished according to their deserts; and the law, when it came, threatened no more.

ed! What strange figures of speech have been invented, and with violent hands thrust into the apostle's mouth; and then with a bold countenance and magisterial airs obtruded on the world, as from him!....But, blessed be God, we have his words as he delivered them, and the rest of the same epistle, and his other writings to compare with them; by which his meaning stands in too strong and glaring a light to be hid by any of the artificial mists which they labor to throw upon it.

It is really no less than abusing the scripture and its readers, to represent this paragraph as the most obscure of all the places of scripture, that speak of the consequences of Adam's sin; and to treat it as if there was need first to consider other places as more plain. Whereas, it is most manifestly a place in which these things are declared, beyond all, the most plainly, particularly, precisely, and of set purpose, by that great apostle, who has most fully explained to us those doctrines in general, which relate to the redemption by Christ, and the sin and misery we are redeemed from. And it must be now left to the reader's judgment, whether the Christain church has not proceeded reasonably, in looking on this as a place of scripture most clearly and fully treating of these things, and in using its determinate sense as an help to settle the meaning of many other passages of sacred writ.

As this place in general is very full and plain, so the doctrine of the corruption of nature, as derived from Adam, and also the imputation of his first sin, are both clearly taught in it. The imputation of Adam's one transgression, is indeed most directly and frequently asserted. We are here assured that by one man's sin, death passed on all.; all being adjudged to this punishment, as having sinned (so it is implied) in that one man's sin. And it is repeated over and over, that all are condemned, many are dead, many made sinners, &c. by one man's offence, by the disobedience of one, and by one offence. And the doctrine of original depravity is also here taught, apostle says, By one man sin entered into the world; having a plain respect (as hath been shewn) to that universal corrup tion and wickedness, as well as guilt, which he had before largely treated of.

when the

PART III.

Observing the Evidence given us, relative to the Doctrine of ORIGINAL SIN, in what the Scriptures reveal concerning the Redemption by Christ.

CHAPTER 1,

The Evidence of ORIGINAL SIN, from the Nature of Redemption in the procurement of it.

ACCORDING to Dr. Taylor's scheme, a very great part of mankind are the subjects of Christ's redemption, who live and die perfectly innocent, who never have had, and never will have any sin charged to their account, and never are either the subjects of, or exposed to any punishment whatsoever, viz. all that die in infancy. They are the subjects of Christ's redemption, as he redeems them from death, or as they by his righteousness have justification, and by his obedience are made righteous, in the resurrection of the body, in the sense of Rom. v. 18, 19. And all mankind are thus the subjects of Christ's redemption, while they are perfectly guiltless, and exposed to no punishment, as by Christ they are intitled to a resurrection. Though, with respect to such persons as have sinned, he allows it is in some sort by Christ and his death, that they are saved from sin, and the punishment of it.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »