Conclusion

On the whole, I observe, There are some other things, besides arguments, in Dr. Taylor’s book, which are calculated to influence the minds, and bias the judgments of some sorts of readers. Here, not to insist on the taking profession he makes, in many places, of sincerity humility meekness charity, &c. in his searching after truth; and freely proposing his thoughts, with the reasons of them, to others ;* nor on his magisterial assurance, appearing on many occasions, and the high contemfit h: sometimes expresses of the opinions and arguments of very excellent divines and fathers in the church of God, who have thought differently horn. him :t Both of which things, it k not unlikely, may have a degree of influence on some of his readers. (However, that they may have only their jusC influence, these things might properly be compared together, and set in contrast, one with the other.)....! say, not to dwell on these matters, I would take some notice of another thing, observable in the writings of Dr. Taylor, and many of the late opposers of the more peculiar doctrines of Christianuy, tending (especially wiiUjuve mile and vnivary readers (not a little to abate the force, and

prevent the due effect, of the clearest scri/iture evidences) id favor of those important doctrines; and particularly to make void the arguments taken from the writings of the Apostle Paul, in which those doctrines are more plainly and fully re-, vealed, than in any other part of the Bible. What I mean, is this: These gentlemen express a high opinion of this apostle, and that very justly, for his eminent genius, hib admirable sagacity, strong powers of reasoning, acquired leaitling, Sec. They speak of him as a writer... .of masterly address, of extensive reach, and deep design, every where in his epistles, almost in every word he says. This looks exceeding sfie cious: It carries a plausible appearance of Christian zeal and attachment to the Holy Scrijitures in such a testimony of high veneration for that great apostle, who was not only the principal instrument of propagating Christianity, but with his own hand wrote so considerable a part of the New Testament. And I am far from determining, with respect at least to some of these writers, that they are not sincere in their declarations, or that all is mere artifice only to make way for the reception of their own peculiar sentiments. However, it tends greatly to subserve such a purpose; as much as if it were designedly contrived, with the utmost subtlety, for that end. Hereby their incautious readers are prepared the more easily to be drawn into a belief, that they, and others in their way of thinking, have not rightly understood many of those things in tiis apostle’s writings, which before seemed very filain to them; and they are also prepared, by a prepossession m favor oi ihtSQ neiu nur iters i to entertain a favorable thought of the intci’Jiretaiions put by them upon the words and phrases of this apostle; and to admit in many passages a meaning which before lay entirely out of sight; quite foreign to all that in the view of a common reader seems to be their obvious sense; and most remote from the expositions agreed in, by those which used to be esteemed the greatest divines, and best commentators. For they must know, that this apostle, being a man of no vulgar undersliinding, it is nothing strange if his meaning lies very drc/i; and no wonder then, if the superfi cial discerning and observation of vulgar Christians, or indeed of the herd of common divines, such as the Westminster As’ sembliji &c. falls vastly short of the apostle’s reach, and frequently does not enter into the true spirit and design of Paul’s epistles. They must understand, that the Jirst reformers, and preachers and expositors in general, both before and since the reformation, for fifteen or sixteen hundred years past, were too unlearned and shortsighted to be capable of penetrating into the sense, or fit to undertake the making comments on the writings of so great a man as this apostle; or else had dwelt in a cave oi bigotry and stufierstition too gloomy to allow them to use their own understandings with freedom, in reading the scripture. But at the same time, it must be understood, that there is risen up, now at length in this happy age of light and liberty, a set of men, of a more free and generous turn of mind, a more inquisitive genius, and better discernment. By such insinuations they seek advantage to their cause; and thus the most unreasonable and extravagant interpretations of scripture are palliated and recommended: So ihat, if the simple reader is not very much on his guard, if he <loes not clearly see with his own eyes, or has too much indolence, or too little leisure, thoroughly to examine for himself (as few, alas, are .willing to be at the pains of acquainting themselves thoroughly with the apostle’s writings, and of comparing one part of them with another, so as to be fully

able to judge of these gentleman’s glosses and pretences) in this case, he is in danger of being imposed on with delusive appearances; as he is preparer by this fair pretext of exalting the sagacity of the apostle, and by a parade of learning, criticism, exact version, penetration into the new scope, and discerning of wonderful connexions, together with the airs these writers assume of dictatorial peremptoriness, and contempt of old opinions and old expositions; I say, such an one is by these thinys prepared to swallow strange doctrine, as trusting to the superior abilif’es of these modern interpreters* But I humbly cor.ceive, their interpretations, particularly of the Apostle Paul’s writings, though in some things ingenious, yet in many things concerning these great articles of religirn, are cxiremtly absurd, and demonstrably disagrees- 2 Y sro ORIGINAL SIN.

ble, in the highest degree, to his real design, to the language he commonly uses, and to the doctrines currently taught in his epistles. Their criticisms, when examined, appear far more subtle, than solid; and it seems as if nothing can possibly be strong enough, nothing perspicuous enough, in any composure whatever, to stand before such liberties as these writers indulge: The plainest and most nervous discourse is analyzed and criticised, till it dissolves into nothing, or till it becomes a thing of little s’.gnifirance: The holy scripture is subtilized into a mere mist; or made to evaporate into a thin cloud, that easily puts on any shape, and is moved in any direction, with a puff of wind, jvist as the manager pleases. It is not in the nature and power of language, to aiford sufficient defence against such an art, so abused; as, I imagine, a due consideration of some things I have had occasion in the preceding discourse to observe, may abundantly convince us.

But this, with the rest of what I have offered on this sub ject of Original Sin, must be left to every candid reader to judge of, for himself; and the success of the whole must now be left with God, who knows what is agreeable to his own mind, and is able to make his own truths prevail; however mysterious they may seem to the poor, partial, narrow, and extremely imperfect views of mortals, while looking through a cloudy and delusory medium; and however disagreeable they may be to the innumerable prejudices of men’s hearts: And who has promised, that the gospel of Christ, such as is really his, shall finally be victorious; and has assured us, that the word which goeth out of his mouth, shall not return to him -voidy but shall accomfilish that which he jileaseth, and shall firos per in the thing ivhereto he sends it. Let God arise, and plead hi* own cause, and glorify his own great name. Amen.