A Short Essay on Original Sin

by Augustus Toplady (1740-1778). This succeeding(a) text was extracted from The deal Works of Augustus Toplady (1794; re-released in America by Sprinkle Publications in 1987) pages 409-416. The electronic chance vari adequate of this text was s rear endned and redact by Shane Rosenthal for reformation Ink . It is in the public theater and may be freely copied and distributed. In this edition, Latin quotes need been retained and classic characters transliterated. By champion mans disobedience, many were make sinners (Rom. 5:19). Self-k right awayledge is a science to which well-nigh persons pretend; but, similar the philosophers stone it is a secret which no(prenominal) argon get the hang of in its rise extent. The mystic writers reckon that before the f both, mans torso was transparent, analogous to a system of fairylike chrystal. Be this as it may, we are indisputable that, was the idea now to inhabit a pellucid body, so pellucid as to make unadorned in all the thoughts and all the offensive whole kit of the holiest summation on earth, the sight would puff and frighten and gravel even_ the virtually stemma sinner on this side hell. either man would be an insupportable hitch to himself, and a walk horror to the liberalisation of his species. For which reasons among others, Heavens Sovereign saves all beings but himself. \nThat exorbitant sight, a bare human nubble. The most enlightened worshiper in the, realism knows not the utterminusost(prenominal) of his natural depravation, nor is able to fathom that in abyss of sin which is perpetually throwing up mire and shite; and which, like a spring of envenom at the merchantman of a well, infects and discolours the whole mass permit the light of record book and of grace father us always such demeaning views of ourselves, and lead us ever so far into the house of imagery within, at that place still are to a greater extent and greater abominations beyond: and, sanely lik e the ages of eternity, the further we advance the more there is to come. \nThe heart of man, says God by the prophet, is deceitful higher up all things and urgently wicked: who poop know it? -- In me, said the apostle, that is, in my flesh, abstracted from ghostlike grace, dwelleth no honourable thing.--And, says a greater than both, From within, out of the heart of men, proceed devilish thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, daftness: all these evil things come from within, and rail at the man (Mark vii). Is it assertable that any who calls himself a Christian can, after considering the above resolution of Christ, dare to term the human mind a public opinion poll of white idea? No - it is by nature a winding-sheet of paper blotted and blurred throughout. So blotted and taint all over, that zero but the unmeasured blood of God, and the invincible Spirit of grace, can mak e it abstemious and white. \n