Our present earthly life is not real life, but death. For by nature we are alienated from the living God, objects of his wrath and condemnation, enemies of the ever-blessed One. Our mind is darkened so that we are devoid of the true knowledge of God, and we love the lie. Our will is perverse, our heart is corrupt, our whole nature is polluted. If life is the constant adaptation of man’s inner nature to him who is the only good, and the overflowing fountain of all good, as would have it, the sinner who stands in opposition and rebellion against God, certainly lies in the midst of death. Our present existence is not eternal life, but perpetual death.