The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-04-16
DEPRAvITY
Fruitland Park. April IA, 1920.

That there is something wrong with
human nature is very evident from
conditions and conduct OF man as
viewed at present time.
There are certain corrupt traits
that show themselves in action that
are reprehensible.
There is no exception to this con
dition but anywhere human being
is found, in the islands of the sea, the
darkest wilds of Africa, in heather
lands, or in the most enlightened of
christian lands, the same ugly that's
are found to be manifested in life.
1t would be strange if these evil
traits so very similar in all parts Of
the earth. among people so different in
their conception of right and wrong
could be the result of environments
or influence upon the child in its first
years of infancy.
The Rev. Josiah Strong OF the Pres
byterian church has said Zone OF the
strongest evidences we have that the
race came from one federal head is
that anywhere a human being is found,
whether in heather lands or among
christian people, the same traits Of
evil is found in their nature
The three months old child of Hot
tentot will show the same ugly spirit
il il is not humored that is shown by
the child of the most enlightened chris
tan parents. This condition seems to
De inherent in the race of Adam and
is not results of influence or ENRON
ments after birth.
This could not be the condition in
which man was Greater for the Bible
says man was made in the Image OF
Gcd''. and we cannot think of God
having in his nature the evil traits
seen in the child even in its infancy.
The bible says God made man pure
and holy, but something happened in
the life of the first pair of human be-
ings that separated man from his Gre
ator and caused him to become unlike
aim in nature
This is seen in the hidings of Adam
ssom the presence food with whom
he had been on familiar terms. He
had changed his attitude towards God
and the natural attitude of man has
been unlike God ever since.
We will not take time to discuss the
question of how evil entered into the
nature of man but it is evident that
man is not as he was created in the
beginning.
Man was created in the image OF
Cod, but when the first child was born
into the world-which was after the
fall of man. it is recorded that Adam
uegat son in his own likness, after
his own image, not after the likeness
Of God in which he was made but after
the likeness of Adam after he had dis
obeyed God and had died to his origin
al condition of righteousness and holl-
ness; and the race has ever been pro-
pogated in the likeless of Adam after
he fall instead of after the likeness OF
Adam before the fall.
The presence of this evil principle,
original sin, depravity, tendency 10
wrong the sin that doth SO easily
beset,' is recognized as inherent in
the race by the most of the churches,
both catholic and protestant.
The Catholic church teaches the
of Unborn sin in the doctrine
of purgatory.
The Protestant Episcopal church
ia It's Articles of Religion says; Or
iginal sin stadeth not in the follow
ing of Adam but is the fault ana
of every man that naturally
Is engendered of the offspring OF Adj
an: and this corruption OF nature.
doth remain. yea. in those that are re
generated"
The Lutheran church teaches mat
since the fall of Adam all men are
born with depraved nature. with
sinful propensities'
1t is to be noticed that the Luther
an church teaches that all men are
born with this depraved nature;
not that it is acquired after birth be-
cause of bad influences or unfortunate
environments.
If man is born with this evil in the
nature he is not morally responsible
for its possession.
The teaching of the Baptist on the
subject is expressed in DR.. Pendletons
book christian Doctrines IN
speaking of the christian warfare he
says This conflict implies the re-
mains of sin in the believer This
could not refer to the remains OF
wrong doings or activities of life for
rs F.4. &c