"And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Gen. i,26, 27.) Man was created in the image of God, and invested with dominion and authority. St. Paul, in Col. iii,10, says: "Put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him," and in Eph. iv,24, "Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." From these passages it is evident that the image of God consists in "knowledge," in "righteousness," and in "true holiness." The likeness of God in which man was created was that of the moral perfections of his Maker. That this moral image of God in man implies and rests upon the natural image of God, must be apparent; for unless he had been endowed with knowledge, spirituality, and will, he would have been wholly incapable of moral qualities. In the Book of Wisdom, which conveys the ideas of the ancient Jews, we find this language: "For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity." As a moral being, man was created under law; the language of which was: "Of every tree of the garden mayest thou freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen. ii, 16, 17. The history informs us that the woman, tempted through the agency of the serpent, which was "more subtile than any beast of the field," took of the fruit, gave it to her husband, who also ate; that for this act of disobedience they were expelled from the garden, made subject to death, and laid under other maledictions. "By Adam's transgressions," says Paul, Rom. v, "many were made sinners." Through him death passed upon all men. As the federal head of the race, he was the fountain of sin and death to his posterity.
The prohibition under which our first parents were placed has been the subject of much ridicule, and the occasion of many a "fool-born jest;" and the whole transaction has been declared to be unworthy of the parties concerned. Where would the test be placed if not in the government of man's own appetites? Social and political relations he had none. We do not suppose that the prohibition under which our first parents were placed was the only rule of their conduct. This precept was made prominent by special injunction, and the result showed that it was a sufficient test. The law was simple and explicit. It was not difficult of observation, and it accorded with the circumstances of those on whom it was enjoined.
The immediate visible agent in the seduction of man to sin was the serpent; but the testimony of Scripture is in proof that the real tempter was that subtile and powerful evil spirit whose general appellations are the devil and Satan; the former signifying traducer and false accuser, and the latter, an adversary. That the devil was the real tempter is the uniform teaching of the Scriptures, and that an order of fallen spirits, under the guidance of an arch-leader, are permitted to have influence on earth, to war against the virtue and peace of man, though under constant control and government, and that this entered into the circumstances of the trial of our first parents, and that it enters into ours.
It is not our purpose in this connection to discuss either the theory of temptation, or the extent of Satanic influence, but to present man's relation to the Divine government as revealed in the Scriptures. In consequence of the apostasy of Adam, all men have sinned. After Adam had lost the image of God he begat a son in his own likeness. The image of God, in which Adam was created, we have shown to have been divine knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. The likeness of Adam is, by unquestionable analogy, the moral character which he possessed after his apostasy. In this likeness Seth is said to have been begotten. That Cain was depraved will not be denied. The same thing is indirectly, but conclusively, taught concerning Abel; for he is declared to have lived and died in faith; and that faith had reference to a future promised Redeemer. Christ, as a Redeemer, could not have been an object of faith to Abel had he not been a sinner; or, in other words, had he not borne the likeness of apostate Adam. If this was the nature of the immediate children of Adam, it can not be denied that it is equally the nature of his remotest progeny, or that they do not all bear the likeness of their common parent. St. Paul argues this doctrine at length in his Epistle to the Romans, and his conclusions are that all are under sin—that judgment has come upon all men to condemnation. St. Paul teaches the same doctrine by asserting the impossibility of being justified by the works of the law. If one sinless man existed in this world, he could not fail to be justified by the works of the law; for the law itself says: "He that doeth these things"—that is, the things required in the law—"shall live by them." As, therefore, no flesh—no child of Adam—shall be justified by the works of the law, it follows conclusively that every one is sinful. The necessity of the new birth, as taught by our Savior to Nicodemus, is founded on this doctrine: "Except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of God." The only use or effect of the new birth is, that in it holiness is implanted in the mind. But if any man were sinless he could not need regeneration, nor be regenerated. He would already possess that holiness which is communicated in regeneration, and, of course, would see the kingdom of God as certainly and easily, at least, as sinners who had been born again. In 2 Cor. v,14, Paul says: "We thus judge, that if one died for all then were all dead;" that is, in sins. What the Scriptures thus clearly assert is fully borne out by observation and experience. Men, every-where, are sinful. It is not an incident of climate, or education, or surroundings; it is as universal as humanity.
Human laws are made to repress and restrain sin. They exist in every country, and are enforced upon men by an iron necessity. The penalties by which they attempt to restrain and punish sin are various and dreadful. And although the most efficacious that human experience and ingenuity can devise, yet they always fall short of their purpose. The propensity to evil in the human heart has defied all their force and terror, and boldly ventured on the forbidden perpetration in the face of all their threatenings. No ingenuity on the one hand, and no suffering on the other, has, in any country, or in any age, been sufficient to overcome this propensity. The conclusion is therefore irresistible, that human nature is universally sinful, and in the language of the creed, that "man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil."
CHAPTER I.
MAN'S PRIMEVAL STATE.
1. Made Under Law.
Gen. II, 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Deut. VI, 5. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deut. X, 12. And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Mark XII, 30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Rom. VII, 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom. VI, 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ezek. XVIII, 4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
2. Created in the Image of God.
(1.) Dominion.
Gen. I, 26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Psalm VIII, 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
(2.) Spirituality.
Acts VII, 59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Num. XVI, 22. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
Num. XXVII, 16. Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation.
James II, 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Heb. XII, 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Acts XVII, 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Job XXXII, 8. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Eccl. III, 21. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Job XXXIV, 14. If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath.
Isaiah LVII, 16. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
Zech. XII, 1. The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2 Cor. V, 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
Job XXXIII, 4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Jer. XXXVIII, 16. So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.
(3.) Immortality.
Gen. II, 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Eccl. III, 21. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Eccl. XII, 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Matt. X, 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke XX, 37. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. 2 Cor. V, 2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5. Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
2 Cor. XII, 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body I can not tell, or whether out of the body I can not tell; God knoweth: such a one caught up to the third heaven.
3. And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell; God knoweth:
4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Rev. VI, 9. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever,
10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.
(4.) Intellectual Powers—Knowledge.
Job XXXII, 8. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Gen. II, 19. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helpmeet for him.
Rom. I, 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Psalm XCIV, 10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
Col. III, 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
Dan. IV, 36. At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
Eccl. VII, 25. I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.
Isaiah I, 18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Ex. XXXV, 31. And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.
(5.) Moral image of God—holiness.
Gen. I, 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Eccl. VII, 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Gen. IX, 6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Rom. VII, 22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.
1 Cor. XV, 45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Eph. IV, 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Col. III, 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
Luke III, 38. Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
James III, 9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
CHAPTER II.
THE FALL OF MAN.
1. The Temptation.
The serpent the instrument—the devil the real tempter.
James I, 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God can not be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Gen. III, 1. Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2. And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Rev. XII, 9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Isaiah XXVII, 1. In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
Gen. III, 13. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
2 Cor. XI, 3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Gen. III, 14. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
2. The Transgression.
Gen. III, 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
1 Tim. II, 14. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
3. The Results of the Fall—Physical Evil.
(1.) The ground cursed for man's sake.
Gen. III, 17. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
Heb. VI, 8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(2.) Man doomed to labor.
Gen. III, 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
(3.) Physical suffering caused by the Fall.
Gen. III, 16. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Rom. VIII, 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope;
21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2 Cor. V, 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
(4.) Temporal death the result of sin.
1 Cor. XV, 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Rom. V, 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13. For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift: for if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification.
17. For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Heb. IX, 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Job. XVI, 22. When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Job. III, 23. Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Eccl. VIII, 8. There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Isaiah LXIV, 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Job XIV, 1. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Psalm XXXIX, 5. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.
Gen. IV, 8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Deut. XXXII, 39. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Eccl. XII, 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Gen. VI, 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
4. Results of the Fall—Moral Evil.
(1.) Spiritual death—loss of the Divine image.
Eph. II, 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.
Gen. VI, 11. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Gen. VI, 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Rom. III, 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16. Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17. And the way of peace have they not known:
18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Psalm XIV, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Job XV, 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
Psalm V, 9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.
Rom. VI, 20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
1 Cor. II, 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Matt. XXIII, 33. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
John VIII, 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Acts VII, 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Rom. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Eph. IV, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
Rom. I, 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.
Jer. XVII, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Rom. VI, 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
5. Man's Moral Nature Corrupted by the Fall.
Rom. V, 17. For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign by one, Jesus Christ.
18. Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Rom. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom. V, 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Isaiah I, 4. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters! they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel into anger, they are gone away backward.
Jer. IV, 22. For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
John III, 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Prov. II, 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked.
Micah VII, 3. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
Psalm LVIII, 3. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Isaiah I, 6. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Eccl. VIII, 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Mark VII, 21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Acts XXVIII, 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Eph. IV, 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
Jer. XVII, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Matt. XXIII, 26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
2 Peter II, 12. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption:
13. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14. Having eyes full of adultery, and that can not cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16. But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet.
17. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.
18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
Matt. III, 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
6. Depravity Hereditary.
Gen. V, 3. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.
John VIII, 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Matt. VII, 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Gen. VI, 11. The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence.
12. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Psalm XIV, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
John III, 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
Rom. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom. VII, 14. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
1 John III, 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John III, 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Eph. IV, 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
Col. II, 13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
1 John II, 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Gen. VIII, 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Prov. XXII, 15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Psalm LI, 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Eccl. IX, 3. This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Matt. XXIII, 27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
7. The Extent of Depravity is Total or Universal,
in that all of Man's Powers and Faculties are Involved,
but not in Degree; so that, while Man's Entire Nature is
Corrupt, he may yet sink deeper in Corruption.
(1.) The will is depraved.
John V, 40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Eph. II, 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Rom. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Job XXI, 15. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Psalm LXXXI, 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
Prov. I, 24. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25. But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.
Zech. VII, 11. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
12. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.
Ex. V, 2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
Job XXI, 14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Jer. V, 23. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Rom. I, 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
(2.) The understanding darkened.
Deut. XXXII, 18. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Psalm L, 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Isaiah I, 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Jer. IV, 22. For my people is foolish, they have not known me, they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Jer. VIII, 7. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.
Eph. IV, 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Psalm LVIII, 4. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
5. Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
Psalm LXXXII, 5. They know not, neither will they understand: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Prov. I, 22. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Prov. I, 29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
30. They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Eph. IV, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
1 Cor. II, 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Tim. III, 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
(3.) The affections are corrupt.
Eph. II, 3. Among whom also we had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Titus III, 3. For we ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
1 Pet. IV, 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4. Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.
Jer. II, 22. For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God.
Jer. XVII, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Eph. IV, 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Rom. VIII, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Jer. V, 23. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Eph. V, 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
John III, 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John VII, 7. The world can not hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John XV, 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.
(4.) The imagination is vitiated.
Gen. VI, 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen. VIII, 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth: neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Jer. III, 17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Jer. VII, 24. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Eph. IV, 17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
2 Cor. X, 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
(5.) Man's Moral Powers Paralyzed.
Eph. V, 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Rom. XI, 8. According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.
Jonah I, 6. So the shipmaster came unto him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
Rom. VII, 18. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom. VII, 23. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
(6.) Man's Utter Helplessness.
Rom. V, 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Eph. II, 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Eph. II, 5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets.
2 Pet. II, 3. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Rom. III, 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13. Their throat is an open sepulcher: with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16. Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17. And the way of peace have they not known.
