To affirm, as the Scriptures of truth positively do, that mankind is originally and totally depraved is but to portray it with every feature of its pristine nobleness, purity, and excellence, utterly spoiled!
Mankind has become the living embodiment, the acting impersonation, the very incarnation of fallen self-love, self-love in the form of complete selfishness.
The original center of the soul forsaken man had become a center to himself.
The god he worshiped, was the deification of self.
The religion he professed, was the adoration of self.
The powers he cultivated, were consecrated to self.
His whole existence was one act of service and devotion to self.
The Divine Center abandoned, he knew no other god,
acknowledged no other sufficiency,
recognized no other end, than himself.
Every faculty and thought, every affection and action were made to contribute to the cloud of incense which rose as in one dense column before this little idol, SELF!
Self the first.
Self the last.
Self all in all! And is it not so now?
Self, in some shape is still the Deity of the natural man!
Selfishness is still the universal sin of our nature, exhibited in one or more of its thousand modifications,
its endless forms.
All are in pursuit either of wealth, or ambition, or pleasure, or honor, or gratification under the 'law of selfishness'.
Self is the only recognized principle and rule of action which regulates the conduct of the great majority of our depraved species.
The indictment is heavy,
the picture is dark,
the sin is awful, we admit.
But it is borne out by daily observation and frequent experience, and by the faithful, unerring Word of God: "All men seek their own!"
What, we ask, is all this self-exalt,
this egotism,
this envy and jealousy,
this attempt to supplant others in esteem, influence, and power,
this prodigality and love of worldly show,
this eager chase of wealth,
this covetousness and stinginess,
this love of ease and sloth,
this niggardly dole of charity,
this cruel, heartless, grinding oppression,
this growing sensuality and crime?
What, we ask, is all this, and a thousand times more but the one appalling, cancerous sin of selfishness existing in the very heart of depravity and sending its fatal poison along all the fibers of human society!
[Octavius Winslow]
Mark 8:34 ... And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
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