grand-son. (Gen. 9. 20.) After the lapse of a

a few years, the tower of Babel was undertaken. (Ch. 11.) The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah became so putrid with sin, that they were consumed by fire from heaven. (Ch. 19.) Even the merciful deliverance of Lot and his two daughters, could not restrain them from committing gross wickedness with their father. (Ch. 19. ver. 31-35.)

Now if the experience of such distinguishing mercies, and the witnessing of such fearful judgments on the wicked, could not keep from sin righteous Lot and the remnant of his family, what must be the depravity of the unsanctified. Is it not evident that they have no fear of God before their eyes? As we trace the history of man, through the divine record down to the coming of Christ, we find increasing evidence that “ the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” This is proved in the life of God's peculiar people. At the foot of Sinai, amid the fearful tokens of his presence, they made and worshipped the molten calf. Age after age they relapsed into the idolatry of the heathen, and its consequent wickedness, despite of the miracles, and revelations, and judgments, and mercies of the Lord. They killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto them, and at length filled up the measure of their iniquity in the crucifixion of the Son of God. Thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and

cast a mount against Jerusalem : this is the city to be visited: she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil are heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited. (Jer. 6. 6,7.) The

proneness of the regenerated heart to sin, is illustrated in the conduct of David, of Solomon, of Peter, of all the righteous. In this we see what the human character would become, if God should remove the restraints which he has imposed, and withhold his purifying influence, and leave it to its full development. Only in this way can we form a just estimate of depravity, and thus judging, no doubt would remain that the natural heart is desperately wicked. The Scriptures no less truly than significantly, call depravity the plague of every man's own heart. (1 Kings 8. 38.)

We have thus far considered only the representations of the natural character of man, given in the Old Testament. The New presents us with the same dark, desolate picture. In the first chapter of the epistle to the Romans, the wickedness of the heathen-of those who had received and extinguished the light of revelation-is described with that accumulation of epithets, which shows that the force of language could do no more. But in the third chapter, Paul applies the description to Jew and Gentile, without distinction. “ What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise : for we have before proved, both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. As it is written, (Psa. 14.) There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” The same apostle gives a general description of human character, when he speaks of the open wickedness which has its source in the natural heart. The works of the flesh are, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. (Gal. 5. 19–21.) The faithfulness of these general representations, is confirmed by facts in the history of the world, no less than the descriptions given in the Old Testament. The present state of the heathen is the same that it was when the epistle to the Romans was written. Consider also the crimes of every species, committed in those parts of the earth which are nominally Christian-committed even while the Spirit is remarkably fulfilling the predicted times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The efforts of infidelity too, ancient and modern, toiling in proportion to the brightness of its burning, to extinguish the lamp of revelation, must be

taken into the account; and cold-hearted morality gathering millions of worshippers, "denying the Lord that bought them.” We must look back also to the relentless persecutions, which have driven to caves and mountains, to prison and to death, thousands of Christian disciples for their Master's sake. More lamentable proof still of deep depravity we find in the church, redeemed to God by his blood. It is under every obligation, to keep “the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” But it has often exhibited to the world, envying and strife. It has been a contentious household, and the truth can never be forgotten, that by one great apostacy—the result of long corruption—the Christian world, excepting a remnant of the faithful, was divided between the false Prophet and the Man of Sin, each exalting themselves to the place of God. If more historic evidence is needed, it is furnished in the recent career of a nation, adorned with literature and science, and the splendour of conquest, setting her nest “among the stars,” (Obad. 4.) and madly endeavouring to wash away in pollution and blood, the very name of religion and its Author.

But for the most decisive proof of total depravity we depend upon,

3. The direct testimony of the Scriptures. A few passages only will be necessary. I know

you, that ye have not the love of God in you. (John 5. 42.) 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. The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. (Gen. 6. 5: 8.21.) The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live. (Eccles. 9. 3.) The fool (a name often given in the Scriptures to the wicked,) hath said in his heart, no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

There are numerous passages also, which imply the doctrine under consideration. They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 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. (Rom. 8.) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord. The Lord is far from the wicked. (Prov. 15. 8, 9, 26, 29. See also, Luke 16. 15: Mat. 12. 35.) Passages of this kind, and they are numerous, establish the truth that