The Moral Descent: From Apostasy to Depravity

"They are all gone aside." — Man falls progressively lower when the mind and heart stray, like a deceitful bow toxon that cannot be trusted. Once deflected from righteousness, nothing becomes easier than sinking into deepening abysses of iniquity. Scripture fills the measure of accusation: "There is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Man cannot remain morally neutral. History demonstrates repeatedly this solemn lesson, yet insidious temptation whispers that one might forsake religious conviction and still preserve a noble life. The backslider and truth-seeker are never identical.

When Elohim is surrendered as the supreme thought of mind and rule of conduct, infinite moral confusion follows. Workers of iniquity serve darkness; their mouths open in cruelty against those who fear and worship God. The counsel of the poor meets contempt; the poor themselves are devoured rapaciously.

Where reverence is abandoned, true self-sacrificing philanthropy cannot survive. This depravity consists in three corruptions: First, the blinding of intellectual faculties—civilization grants no Divine knowledge. Second, the perversion and rebellion of the will, that commanding faculty by which the soul chooses or rejects what is offered. Third, disordered and alienated affections. Such a threefold cord against Yahweh and holiness might seem unbreakable—yet thanks be to God, redemption remains possible through grace.