All mankind are by nature in a guilty, sinful, and miserable state.1 By their relation to the first Adam they are under the law, as it is sanctioned in the covenant of works: and through his first transgression, all of them, forasmuch as they are in him, have been brought under the curse of the law,2 which declares every one cursed that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. And by nature all are dead in trespasses and sins, enemies in their mind by wicked works, every imagination of the thoughts of their hearts being only evil continually, without any desire to know the Lord or to obey him, and justly deserving of eternal death.3
1 Isa 64:6; Eph. 2:3; Psa. 51:5. 2 Rom 5:12,18; 1 Cor. 15:22; Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10. 3 Eph.2:1-3; Eph. 4:18; Col. 1:21; Gen. 2:17; Gen. 6:5; Job 21:14; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:7.
