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sinfulness； we are on very dangerous ground。 A deeper study of
Leviticus might do us much good。
（2） Concerning the origin and source of this vast moral disease called
〃sin〃 I must say something。 I fear the views of many professing
Christians on this point are sadly defective and unsound。 I dare not
pass it by。 Let us； then； have it fixed down in our minds that the
sinfulness of man does not begin from without； but from within。 It is
not the result of bad training in early years。 It is not picked up from
bad panions and bad examples； as some weak Christians are too fond
of saying。 No！ it is a family disease； which we all inherit from our
first parents； Adam and Eve； and with which we are born。 Created 〃in
the image of God；〃 innocent and righteous at first； our parents fell
from original righteousness and became sinful and corrupt。 And from
that day to this all men and women are born in the image of fallen Adam
and Eve； and inherit a heart and nature inclined to evil。 〃By one man
sin entered into the world。〃〃That which is born of the flesh is
flesh。〃〃We are by nature children of wrath。〃〃The carnal mind is
enmity against God。〃〃Out of the heart （naturally as out of a
fountain） proceed evil thoughts； adulteries；〃 and the like。 （John iii。
6； Ephes。 ii。 3； Rom。 viii。 7； Mark vii。 21。） The fairest babe that has
entered life this year； and bee the sunbeam of a family； is not； as
its mother perhaps fondly calls it； a little 〃angel；〃 or a little
〃innocent；〃 but a little 〃sinner。〃 Alas！ as it lies smiling and crowing
in its cradle； that little creature carries in its heart the seeds of
every kind of wickedness！ Only watch it carefully； as it grows in
stature and its mind developes； and you will soon detect in it an
incessant tendency to that which is bad； and a backwardness to that
which is good。 You will see in it the buds and germs of deceit； evil
temper； selfishness； self…will； obstinacy； greediness； envy； jealousy；
passionwhich； if indulged and let alone； will shoot up with painful
rapidity。 Who taught the child these things？ Where did he learn them？
The Bible alone can answer these questions！Of all the foolish things
that parents say about their children there is none worse than the
mon saying； 〃My son has a good heart at the bottom。 He is not what
he ought to be； but he has fallen into bad hands。 Public schools are
bad places。 The tutors neglect the boys。 Yet he has a good heart at the
bottom。〃The truth； unhappily； is diametrically the other way。 The
first cause of all sin lies in the natural corruption of the boy's own
heart； and not in the school。
（3） Concerning the extent of this vast moral disease of man called sin；
let us beware that we make no mistake。 The only safe ground is that
which is laid for us in Scripture。 〃Every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart〃 is by nature 〃evil； and that continually。〃〃The heart is
deceitful above all things； and desperately wicked；〃 （Gen。 vi。 5； Jer。
xvii。 9。） Sin is a disease which pervades and runs through every part
of our moral constitution and every faculty of our minds。 The
understanding； the affections； the reasoning powers； the will； are all
more or less infected。 Even the conscience is so blinded that it cannot
be depended on as a sure guide； and is as likely to lead men wrong as
right； unless it is enlightened by the Holy Ghost。 In short； 〃from the
sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness〃 about us。
（Isa。 i。 6。） The disease may be veiled under a thin covering of
courtesy； politeness； good manners； and outward decorum； but it lies
deep down in the constitution。
I admit fully that man has many grand and noble faculties left about
him； and that in arts and sciences and literature he shows immense
capacity。 But the fact still remains that in spiritual things he is
utterly 〃dead；〃 and has no natural knowledge； or love； or fear of God。
His best things are so interwoven and intermingled with corruption；
that the contrast only brings out into sharper relief the truth and
extent of the fall。 That one and the same creature should be in some
things so high and in others so lowso great and yet so littleso
noble and yet so meanso grand in his conception and execution of
material things； and yet so grovelling and debased in his
affectionsthat he should be able to plan and erect buildings like
those to Carnac and Luxor in Egypt； and the Parthenon at Athens； and
yet worship vile gods and goddesses； and birds； and beasts； and
creeping thingsthat he should be able to produce tragedies like those
of 苨chylus and Sophocles； and histories like that of Thucydides； and
yet be a slave to abominable vices like those described in the first
chapter of the Epistle to the Romansall this is a sore puzzle to
those who sneer at 〃God's Word written；〃 and scoff at us as
Bibliolaters。 But it is a knot that we can untie with the Bible in our
hands。 We can acknowledge that man has all the marks of a majestic
temple about hima temple in which God once dwelt； but a temple which
is now in utter ruinsa temple in which a shattered window here； and a
doorway there； and a column there； still give some faint idea of the
magnificence of the original design； but a temple which from end to end
has lost its glory and fallen from its high estate。 And we say that
nothing solves the plicated problem of man's condition but the
doctrine of original or birth…sin and the crushing effects of the fall。
Let us remember； besides this； that every part of the world bears
testimony to the fact that sin is the universal disease of all mankind。
Search the globe from east to west and from pole to polesearch every
nation of every clime in the four quarters of the earthsearch every
rank and class in our own country from the highest to the lowestand
under every circumstance and condition； the report will be always the
same。 The remotest islands in the Pacific Ocean； pletely separate
from Europe； Asia； Africa； and America； beyond the reach alike of
Oriental luxury and Western arts and literatureislands inhabited by
people ignorant of books； money； steam； and gunpowderuncontaminated
by the vices of modern civilizationthese very islands have always
been found； when first discovered； the abode of the vilest forms of
lust； cruelty； deceit； and superstition。 If the inhabitants have known
nothing else； they have always known how to sin！ Everywhere the human
heart is naturally 〃deceitful above all things； and desperately
wicked。〃 （Jer。 xvii。 9。） For my part； I know no stronger proof of the
inspiration of Genesis and' the Mosaic account of the origin of man；
than the power； extent； and universality of sin。 Grant that mankind
have all sprung from one pair； and that this pair fell （as Gen。 iii。
tells us）； and the state of human nature everywhere is easily accounted
for。 Deny it； as many do； and you are at once involved in inexplicable
difficulties。 In a word； the uniformity and universality of human
corruption supply one of the most unanswerable instances of the
enormous 〃difficulties of infidelity。〃
After all； I am convinced that the greatest proof of the extent and
power of sin is the pertinacity with which it cleaves to man even after
he is converted and has bee the subject of the Holy Ghost's
operations。 To use the language of the Ninth Article； 〃this infection
of nature doth remainyea； even in them that are regenerate。〃 So
deeply planted are the roots of human corruption； that even after we
are born again； renewed； 〃washed； sanctified； justified；〃 and made
living members of Christ； these roots remain alive in the bottom of our
hearts； and； like the leprosy in the walls of the house； we never get
rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved。
Sin； no doubt； in the believer's heart； has no longer dominion。 It is
checked； controlled； mortified； and crucified by the expulsive power of
the new principle of grace。 The life of a believer is a life of
victory； and not of failure。 But the very struggles which go on within
his bosom； the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily； the
watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man；
the contest between the flesh and the spirit； the inward 〃groanings〃
which no one knows but he who has experienced themall； all testify to
the same great truth； all show the enormous power and vitality of sin。
Mighty indeed must that foe be who even when crucified is still alive！
Happy is that believer who understands it； and while he rejoices in
Christ Jesus has no confidence in the flesh； and while he says； 〃Thanks
be unto God who giveth us the victory；〃 never forgets to watch and pray
lest he fall into temptation！
（4） Concerning the guilt； vileness； and offensivenesS of sin in the
sight of God； my words shall be few。 I say 〃few〃 advisedly。 I do not
thin