111. Chapter 12: Doctrine Of Native Demerit.

Chapter 12 Doctrine Of Native Demerit. In a previous analysis of original sin, as the formula is maintained in the Augustinian anthropology, we found three distinct elements: a common guilt of Adam’s sin, the corruption of human nature as a judicial infliction on the ground of that sin, and the intrinsic sinfulness and demerit of the common native depravity. We have disposed of the former two questions, but the third is still on hand. Nor can it be regarded as merely incidental in its relation to systematic theology, but, when properly apprehended, must be viewed as central and determining. Infralapsarian Calvinism, now the prevalent form, can have no standing without it; Arminianism, no consistent and sure ground with it. It conditions the decree of election and reprobation in the former system, and contradicts the fundamental principles of the latter. Such doctrinal consequences of the question will fully appear in its discussion, and therefore require no further statement here. The doctrine is, that native depravity, in its own intrinsic nature, and wholly irrespective of any personal moral action, is truly sin, or so sin as to have in itself the desert of punishment. On the ground of inherited depravity every soul is amenable to the divine retribution, just as for any free sinful deed. This statement of the doctrine will be fully justified under the next head. The strength of Augustine’s own view of the common native sinfulness, in the sense of punitive desert, is quite familiar to students of theology. He has left no room for any uncertainty. On no question was he more earnest or intense. He pronounced the whole human race, in their natural state, as consequent upon the sin of Adam, one mass of perdition (massa perditionis).^[541] The creeds and confessions, whose anthropology is constructed upon Augustinian ground, contain the same doctrine. Some of the stronger terms may be avoided, but the doctrine of a native sinfulness and damnableness is equally present. “This disease, or original fault, is truly sin, condemning and bringing eternal death.”^[542] Original sin, the corruption of our nature and a hereditary disease, “is sufficient to condemn all mankind.”^[543] Original sin, the fault and corruption of the nature of every one, naturally engendered of the offspring of Adam, “in every person born into the world it deserveth God’s wrath and damnation.”^[544] Our native corruption, as really as our actual sin, “doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God and curse of the law, and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.”^[545] Many authorities, both confessional and individual, might easily be added.

^[541]Works (Migne’s), vol. x, p. 403.

^[542]The Augsburg Confession, article ii.

^[543]The Belgic Confession, article xv.

^[544]Articles of the Church of England, article ix.

^[545]The Westminster Confession, chap. vi.