THIRD ESSAY. On the Guilt and .Defilement of Sin, and how far they may be transferred to Others. IN order to clear the doctrine of imputed sin from all further difficulties, it maybe proper to enter into a disquisition of the true sense of those words, viz. sin, guilt, and defilement,* which are frequently made use of in scripture, and in thecommon lan- guage of christians : Let us try to clear them from all ambiguity, by setting the several distinct senses in which they are used in a perspicuous light. Sin is the most general name for all manner of moral evil, and in its general or abstract nature, or rather the sinfulness of it, is want of conformity to the law of Goa in the things which that law requires, or the transgression of that law in those things which it forbids ; and thus it includes both the sins of omission and sins of commission. Again, Sin is to be considered as it is a principle or habit in the mind, which inclines us to break the law of God ; or as it appears in the actions of life, which are actual transgressions or violations of this law. Yet further, there are two things to be considered in sin, viz. the real and the relative evil of it. First, The real evil of sin consists in its hurtful nature and evil qualities, whether it be considered in the habits of the mind, or in the actions of life. Let us survey them both briefly. The real evil of sin is that disorder in the habits, or principles, or powers of the soul, which inclines it to act contrary to the holy nature, perfections and image of God, as well as against his law. It is a disorder also in these very actions, as they are contrary to the natureof God, defacinghis image, spoiling the soul's original rectitude, breaking the true order of things, and destroying the truest happiness of [pant. This disorder in the soul, or its prin- ciples of action, is called in scripture, lust, concupiscence, cor- ruption, sin that dwells in us, the body of death, the flesh, the * Though the abstract substantives guilt and defilement are not much used in scripture in our translation, yet I presume none will be so weak as to object against my representation of them as scripture-language, sine- their conjugates or derivatives, guilty, guiltiness, guiltless, defile, defiled," &c. are frequently used. f As virtue and holiness are are the true rectitude and order of the human soul, when all its powers are in proper subjection to God, and harmony with each other ; so sin is properly the disorder of it, when the, inferior powers of appetite and affection rebel against the superior and guiding powers of reason and conscience, and the will and passions are not 'kept in their due obedience no the Creator.
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