Depravity of the times
April 25, 1834
Writing to Helen: “The deeper I get in my moral researches, the more does my soul sicken at the depravity of the times. As a nation, we are ‘full of wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores’. Men are profane — impure –vicious –rebellious. The leprosy of corruption covers society, and the cancer of selfishness is preying upon its vitals. As a people, we are by no means backward in our professions of christianity and republicanism; but it is certain that we draw nigh unto God with our lips, while our hearts are far from him –else we should bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness.” 1