Man was at first created holy, placed in a happy situation by his Maker, and endowed with the greatest blessings; but, by his disobedience to the command of God, he rendered himself exposed to the death of the body and the soul, and, ever since, all his numerous posterity have been born in sin, and have continued to live and die under the influence of enmity to God, where Divine grace has not changed the heart. The condition of every one in a state of nature is truly lamentable and awful: he is a sinner against God, an enemy to God, and at an awful distance from God; he is said to be alienated from the life of God. Sin is his element, his business, his study, his delight; and, if it be not pardoned, will prove his ruin.

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