American preacher Gardiner Spring spent 63 years ministering to his congregation at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York. He initially wanted to work in law, but after his admission to the Bar, he felt called to the ministry. In this sermon, he defines human sinfulness, because "Next to just views of God, just views of the morally depraved character of man, are essential to the knowledge of divine truth." Spring faces the issue of sin directly for the benefit of all Christian readers.