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.
Because The god he worshiped, was the deification of self.
And 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–was made to contribute to the cloud of incense which rose as in one dense column before this little idol, SELF!
Self the first.
And 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.
Therefore The indictment is heavy,
the picture is dark,
and 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-exaltism,
egotism,
envy and jealousy,
attempt to supplant others in esteem, influence, and power,
prodigality and love of worldly show,
eager chase of wealth,
covetousness and stinginess,
love of ease and sloth,
stingy dole of charity,
cruel, heartless, grinding oppression,
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!