Q. 11. Does the Bible teach the native depravtiy of mankind? or that whenever they begin to act as moral agents, they act sinfully?

A. It does.

1. The Bible does not teach, that infants are not depraved, or that they are holy, or that they are in a state of neutrality, neither holy nor unholy. But it is reasonable to suppose it would, if this were the The inference then is that mankind are born

case.

depraved. 2. The Bible teaches the doctrine of native depravity, by teaching the depravity of the whole human race. The fact, that none of mankind ever fail of sinning is more than probable proof, that they are born with a disposition averse to good and prone to evil.(5)

3. The Bible teaches the depravity of infants, by teaching their need of a Saviour. All of the human race, infants as well as others, who are ever admitted to heaven will ascribe their salvation to Christ. But this they cannot do, unless they had been the subjects of sin and condemnation. Infants then are depraved.(1)

4. The Bible teaches native depravity, by teaching the baptism of infants. Baptism represents the

(g) Rom. 5. 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. Rom. 3. 10-12. As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Eccl. 7. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

(h) Matt. 9. 12. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Luke 19. 10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Rev. 1. 5, 6. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

washing of the soul from sin and pollution by the blood of Christ, applied by the Holy Spirit, in His purifying and sanctifying influences. But if children are not depraved, their baptism is altogether an insignificant rite-totally without meaning. Infants are then depraved.(i)

5. The Bible teaches native depravity, by teaching the necessity of the spiritual regeneration of all mankind, children as well as others, in order to their admission into heaven. All then are naturally unholy.()

6. The Bible teaches native depravity, by teaching, that sin is the source of all the natural evils of this life, and even of death itself. But infants endure many pains and sorrows, and multitudes of them die. They are, therefore, the subjects of moral evil.(*)

7. The Bible teaches native depravity, by express declarations of it.(')

(i) Acts 16. 15, 33. And when she was baptised, and her household, she besought us saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. -And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptised, he and all his, straight way.

(j) John 3. 5, 6. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

(k) Gen. 3. 16, 17. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 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. Rom. 5. 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.

(1) Ps. 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Job 14. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Job 15. 14. What is man that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous. John 3. 6. That which

Q. 12. Does the depravity of man destroy his moral agency?

A. It does not. He has the very same faculties of mind, which Adam had before he fell, and is, therefore, just as much bound to love God with all the heart, and his neighbour as himself, as Adam was before he fell.

Q. 13. What is the degree of man's depravity? A. It is entire or total. By this is meant,

1. Not that mankind are as bad as they can be, for they are greatly restrained; or that they all are equally wicked, for some are worse than others; or that they are destitute of every thing useful and lovely in society, for many are possessed of very amiable and useful natural qualities; or that their natural or intellectual faculties are destroyed, for these remain; or that they have not the natural affections of gratitude, sympathy, pity, humanity, and the like, for all mankind, whether holy or unholy, possess these in common. But by this is meant,

2. That mankind by nature are entirely destitute of holiness or moral goodness, and positively sinful, so far as their affections and actions partake of a moral nature. If this be not a fact, it will be difficult to point out the difference between a saint and a sinner, for the least degree of holiness gives a person the character of a saint.

Q. 14. How does it appear that all mankind are thus depraved?

A. From experience, observation, history, and the word of God. We all are conscious, if we carefully examine ourselves, that our hearts, natu

is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Ps. 58. 3. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Prov. 22. 15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child. Isa. 48. 8. For I know that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. Gen. 8. 21. For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.

rally, are not right with God, but opposed to Him, and to that which is good. The conduct of those of mankind, who are in an unrenewed state, which we witness in them from time to time, proves their entire depravity. The history of the world is but little else, than a history of evil devices and crimes. The Scriptures are explicit and abundant, in teaching man's total depravity, by express passages. (m) Q. 15. What are the consequences of man's depravity?

A. The loss of communion with God, the toils and sorrows of this life, the death of the body, the exposure of all men to the pains and miseries of hell for ever, and the actual endurance of these by the finally impenitent. (")

(m) Gen. 6. 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. 8. 7, 8. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. John 5. 42. But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you. Rom. 7. 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. 1 Cor. 2. 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.

(n) Gen. 3. 24, 16, 17. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden, cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 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. Gen. 2. 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 there. of thou shalt surely die. Gen. 3. 19. For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gal. 3. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse, for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which

Q. 16. Are the doctrines of man's apostacy, depravity, and lost state, fundamental? and therefore, important to be understood and believed?

A. They are; for they lie at the very foundation of the religion of the Bible. They ought, therefore, to be properly understood, and firmly believed.

are written in the book of the law, to do them. 2 Thess. 1. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. Matt. 25. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.