The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-14

have everything and some nothing: but the doc
trine of original sin holds that however great these
differences if you go deep enough you will come
to dentically the same fallen nature in every hu-
life.
For all who regard the Bible as of infallble au-
thority in matters of faith doctrine its teach
ings should be proof enough of the truth of the
doctrine. The Bible treats a disease called "sin."
1t proposes to sin. The only trouble it finds
with man is that he is sinner; and it offers
Gospel that saves from sin by giving the sinner
new nature. In all it's treatment sin and in all
the provision it makes for the of sin, the BIZ
BILE impricitly and explicitly assumes the fact of
mans fallen and sinful nature.
No other explanation is adequate. If we are not
born with tendency to sin, why should we do
wrong? To say it is the result of example is to
run into blind alley. Where did the original
sinner get his example, and how does it come about
that every member of the human family has fol-
lowed the same example? If it were of
ample, one would think that indivfduasm would
assert itself and produce variety. But the record
OF sin is deadly monotonous from Adam down. The
only sufficient explanation is that deep down be-
hind all conduct is the play of steady always
present force disposing to evil.
"Heredity" is only an exaggerated symptom of
original sin, but it the doctrine. If par
ent can and does transmit to his offspring certain
physical and mental traits, why may not a dispo-
sition to sin be transmitted from sire to sol?
Such case as that of Margaret the Criminal
with her numerous and notorious progeney of
a IL
gals prayer when he says: Behold 1 was shapen
in inquity and in sin did my mother conceive
me-"
The universal fact of suffering proves the fact
of race-sin. The penalty has passed upon all men,
Part of the penalty is death, and death is univer-
sal. If sin is not a heritage, why should it's pen
atty be inherited? Death has passed upon all
men, for that all have snned"
Indeed, one need not go beyond his own exper-
1ence for a vindicaton of the writer of my text
Conscience endorses it. Not man. woman or
child but trangresses. 1t is easy for To do
wrong. We must struggle to do right WHY? Be-
cause there is a law in members warning
against the law in our minds
Every police court breaches the doctrine of orig
nal sim Go there, if you will, and look into those
sodden faces. Hear the story of their revolving
crimes. Gaze upon the rags and Indebtedness of
pauperism. Consider how the black stream of vice
rolls on from generation to generation. Why are
these people not warned by experience? Why are
sins as dark and infamous those of six thousand
years ago still committed? 1t is because human ma
ture is the Sin is blood 1t is the awful
nightmare of the race. Human nature is what it
was and religion faces the same problem that it
did the day Adam fell.
The world is growing better. There is more
goodness i'm the world, and it is of finer kind
There is better vision of God and man and duty
Ihere is saner Interpretation of life. There is
more unselfshness, more sacrifice, more brother-
ness more love, for there who have the
spirit Of Jesus Christ. The doctrine of original
sin is not the doctrine of pessmism The world
is Improving.
Yet when come to the individual life hui
man nature is the same. 1t takes as much of
omnipotence to make a bad man good as ever IT
takes as mighty Saviour for the modern as for
the ancient sinner If so we do not need a new
religion The Gospel that redeemed the thief On
the cross and transformed a runaway slave is the
Gospel we need. We must get back to Calvary
and gain the merits Of the cross The Jesus who
saved Matthew from covetousness and Peter from,
instability and Paul from bgotry is the Saviour
human nature needs to-day. If original sin is a
fact, what the sinner needs is q new nature T.
Is % irlr tEnt