is altogether destitute of every thing that is truly and spiritually good, and altogether prone to evil ; though, in respect of the visible fruits of evil, there is a con- siderable difference between one and another. We say too that man is incapable of doing any thing that is truly and spiritually good ; but that his incapacity arises, not from any want of physical powers, but of moral and spiritual dispositions. He has the same power to exercise his mind in one thing as in another, if he have the inclination and desire so to do ; the fault is in his will, which is averse to good, and in his affections, which are set on evil. At the same time, whatever be the state of a man's will and affections, he has not in himself the power to do the will of God; for that end he must be strengthened by the Spirit of God : but that aid no man shall want, who seeks it from God in spirit and in truth.
And now I speak as to wise men ; judge ye what I say : Is there any thing extravagant in this state- ment ? Is there any thing that can warrant such representations as are too often given of the senti- ments of those who maintain the doctrines above considered ? We speak not as to wise men only, but as to men of candour and liberality, of truth and equity : is there any thing here which is not most decidedly declared in the Holy Scriptures ? Is there any thing which is not sanctioned and confirmed by all the authentic records of the doctrines of our Church ?
Let us briefly institute this inquiry, in order that the truth of our statement may yet more abundantly appear.
What saith the Scripture ? The testimony of the Most High God is this, that when he looked down from heaven to behold the children of men, he saw " that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every imaginatio7i of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil contimially''" Can the total corruption of our nature be stated in stronger terms than these ? But it will be more satisfactory,
^ Gen. vi. 5.