manner which Dr. Taylor mentions, viz. to mortify, or moderate their
into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof, and the goodness thereof. But when ye entered, ye defiled my land," etc. See the following verses, especially v. 12, "Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this." So Is. 1:1–4: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his owner and the ass his master's crib; but my people doth not know, Israel doth not consider. Ah, sinful nation! a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters."
Compare Deut. 32:6–19. If it showed so great depravity, to be disposed thus to abuse the blessings of so fruitful and pleasant a land as Canaan, surely it would be an evidence of a no less astonishing corruption, to be inclined to abuse the blessings of Eden, and the garden of God there.
2. If death be brought on mankind only as a benefit, and in that manner which Dr. Taylor mentions, viz. to mortify, or moderate their carnal appetites and affections, wean 'em from the world, excite 'em to sober reflections, and lead 'em to the fear and obedience of God, etc.—is it not strange, that it should fall so heavy on infants, who are not capable of making any such improvement of it; so that many more of mankind suffer death in infancy, than in any other equal part of the age of man? Our author sometimes hints, that the death of infants may be for the good of parents, and those that are adult, and may be for the correction and punishment of the sins of parents: but hath God any need of such methods to add to parents' afflictions? Are there not ways enough that he might increase their trouble, without destroying the lives of such multitudes of those that are perfectly innocent, and have in no respect any sin belonging to 'em: on whom death comes, at an age, when not only the subjects are not capable of any reflection, or making any improvement of it, either in