Original sin
Of all the truths acknowledged and assumed in this ancient book, we find none more clearly or readily confessed than that of man's original sin and native corruption. "What is man that he should be clean?" When a question is asked in argument and left unanswered, it is the strongest possible form of denial. It is more than saying no man is clean or righteous. It represents such a supposition as man's priority or holiness to be preposterous and absurd. Man, as man, and as born of woman by natural descent, is necessarily imperfect and impure. God is Himself the pure and perfect one, and nothing is pure or perfect but what is in God. All other purity and perfection is therefore comparative. Man may be pure and perfect as a man, while he is still very far from the purity and holiness of God. God has other and higher beings than man. Compare man with these. By "saints" here are meant the holy angels. God is said not to put trust in them. Their perfection is der...