Treatise Doctrine Of Original Sin
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-doctrine-of-original-sin-285 |
| Words | 380 |
A denial of original sin contradicts the main
design of the gospel, which is to humble vain man, and to
ascribe to God’s free grace, not man’s free will, the whole of
his salvation. Nor, indeed, can we let this doctrine go with
out giving up, at the same time, the greatest part, if not all,
of the essential articles of the Christian faith. If we give
up this, we cannot defend either justification by the merits of
Christ, or the renewal of our natures by his Spirit. Dr. Taylor’s book is not, therefore, subversive of a particular
branch, but of the whole scheme, of Christianity. “WI. The doctrine, therefore, of original sin is not only a
truth agreeable to Scripture and reason, but a truth of the
utmost importance. And it is a truth to which the Churches
of Christ, from the beginning, have borne a clear testimony. “Few truths, if any, are more necessary to be known, be
lieved, and thoroughly considered. For if we are not ac
quainted with this, we do not know ourselves; and if we do
not know ourselves, we cannot rightly know Christ and the
grace of God. And on this knowledge of Christ and the grace
of God depends the whole of our salvation. St. Augustine,
therefore, well remarks, ‘Christianity lies properly in the
knowledge of what concerns, Adam and Christ. For, certainly,
if we do not know Christ, we know nothing to any purpose;
and we cannot know Christ, without some knowledge of what
relates to Adam, who was ‘the figure of Him that was to come.’
“‘But if this doctrine is so important, why is so little
said of it in Scripture, and in the writings of the ancients?”
“This is a grand mistake. We totally deny that the Scrip
ture says little of it. Dr. Taylor, indeed, affirms, ‘There are
but five passages of Scripture that plainly relate to the effects
of Adam’s fall.” Not so: Many Scriptures, as has been shown,
plainly and directly teach us this doctrine; and many others
deliver that from which it may be rationally and easily de
duced. Indeed, the whole doctrine of salvation by Christ,
and divine grace, implies this; and each of its main branches
--justification and regeneration--directly leads to it.