The Penn's Grove record., 1891-07-24
METHODIST DOCTRINE and
DISCIPLINE.
Depravity.

The third of Rev. D. W. c. McIntire's
| series of sermons was preached Sunday
| evening from the following text:
"By one mans disobedience many were
made sinners. Romans $40.
The text states q fact with which we are
all sadly familiar, many are sinners 1t
also contains an explanation of the manner
in which many were made sinners" by
the d~isobedience of one man. The context
shows that that one man whose act plunged
so many into sin, was our first parent, the
original man Adam, and it further shows
that because of his offence all come under
condemnation having lost, by his trans
erosion the image of God.
The doctrine of the ~depTavity OF human
nature, stands opposed to the doctrine of
the natural innocence of the human race.
1t is contended by some, that mankind is
not naturally bad, but that he goes wrong
by force of example. But as this does not
reflect the teachings of the word of God we
must reject it, though it be more t1attering
to our natures than the doctrine of Depray-
ity.
Depravity is a term used TO describe the
natural moral state of the human family,
by which we mean that all persons born in
to the world are sinners, having in their
very nature the germs Of the sins they after
ward commit.
/. A Bible Doctrine.
Concerning Depravity the Scriptures
teach.
l. The moral corruption of the inner
man, Gen. 6:55; 8:21; jeremiah 1879; Ro-
mans 81; Matthew 1919.
9. The Scriptures teach the doctrine OF
Natural Depravity." Sin is q part of our
nature, not something caught after we are
| born, but the child when born by virtue OF
its relation to Adam, is u sinner needing
| the ~atoning merits of a Saviour. See Job.
1914; Psalms Sis: 1913; Eph. 2:3.
8. The Scriptures teach the doctrine OF
| Universal Depravity. This moral deflec-
| ton is not confined to q portion only, of
mankind, but every person, whether born
| amid the most moral and religious surround
| ings or in the slums of sin, share in the
general d~epravity. See Psalm, 53:1-3; Ro-
| mans SO, 19, 90; 5:12-14.
4. The Scriptures teach that man can
| not recover himself from this state of DE,
prayity. See John 1877, 14:15; Rom.7 :14
rs. ,
III. We find man just as the Bible repre-
sents him, a Depraved Creature.
1. The history of nations is a history OF
the manifestations of depravity in man.
Ancient and modern nations alike are de-
PRAYED.
9. Laws found among all nations for
the suppression of vice will show it to be
universal.
3. Christian civilization rewards virtue and
Furnishes vice; yet i%ntemperance, heentious,
ness, dishonesty and other iniquitles abound
and are only in part restrained by the pen
alties visited upon those who are judicially
convicted. We can only account for this
general wickedness by the recognition OF
inward depravity of the race. If men sin
because they see others sin, it shows a NOR
al weakness, prompting them to copy the
bad rather than the good. If men follow
the example of Others only, whose example
did the first transgressor follow? The
Scriptures teach, experience and history
confirm the fact, that man is far removed
from righteousness, that he is inclined to
evil from his birth.
III. A dark picture, but frightened by
one ray of light. Jesus the Goldman entered
our flesh, '.partook not of the nature of an
gels, but of the seed of Abraham and
triumphed over sin. He lived among us,
suffered with us, and died for us, and thus
| openeda fountain for sin and ~uncleanness. y
1.-THE blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin. +"