426 RUIN AND RECOVERY, &C. Objection H. The common doctrine of original sin inherent, which supposes every man and woman to be born withsinful qua- lities, vilifies and pours great contempt on human nature, &c. If we act upon this principle, we shall rather hate than love one another. AnswerI. A depression of human nature under a due and deep sense of such universal sin and misery, is the first step to- wards our recovery by the grace of God and the gospel. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven, or the blessedness of the gospel ; Mat. v. 3. There were many who professed christianity in Laodicia, knewnot that they were wretch- ed andmiserable, andpoor, and blind, and naked, therefore they did not seriously apply to Christ to be made partakers of his blessings; Rev. iii. 17. It isfrom a knowledge of our sin and misery by the law, that we come to seek after the salvation of grace ; Rom. iii. 19, 24. And. I am persuaded that it is the pride and self -sufficiency of men not acknowledging their folly wretchedness and ruin, that is one of the chief hindrances to the acceptance of the grace of Christ. II. It is yet more unrea- sonable to suppose, that the acknowledgment of this universal wretchedness of mankind should incline us to hate oneanother; are we not rather led hereby to pity each other under our com- mon frailties and miseries ? And is not this pity the first proper expression of love to the miserable ? Objection III. There can be no man born with principles of sin or sinful qualities, unless God be made the author of sin, be- cause God who makes the nature of every man, makes all his qualities also. Nor could such a constitution of nature be a righteous constitution, which continues the propagation of every childwith sinful principles in him, for it is the same thing as if God infused-sin into them, and therefore there is no such consti- tution. Answer, Bath not a wise and good God, considered as Creator, ordained such a constitution of nature, whereby the most monstrous births are brought into the world-by sinful mix- tures, if mankind abuse themselves with brutes ? And may not the great Godbe good andwise even in this constitution ? Cannot a God of equity and goodness appoint such a course of nature among fallen mankind, whereby a drunkard or a lewd person may produce a child bearing the vicious qualities of the parent, or the miserable effects of the parent's sins? And yet the order of nature may be wise and righteous. Is not madness propagated through whole families, and sometimes in several succession's, by the fixed constitutionof the God of nature, withoutGod's own in- fusing madness into the brain or blood ? Has not God appointed a seed to bring forth a plant ? But if the seed be any way cor- rupted, it may by the divine appointment of the course of nature bring forth a corrupt tree. .Is it God that infuses all these evil
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