"There is no sinfulness in the will and affections without some error in the understanding. All lusts which a natural man lives in, are lusts of ignorance"

George Gillespie, a popular 17th-century Scottish theologian and minister, is recognized for his deal with protecting religious flexibilities and his involvement in the preparing of the Westminster Confession of Faith. His quote, "There is no sinfulness in the will and affections without some error in the understanding. All lusts which a natural male lives in, are desires of lack of knowledge", encapsulates an extensive doctrinal viewpoint on humanity, morality, and sin.

Gillespie's assertion can be unpacked into two main concepts. The first is that sinfulness comes from not solely from one's desires (the will and affections) but is linked inherently to the understanding. According to Gillespie, ignorance fuels sin, implying that sinful actions originate from a problematic or inaccurate comprehension of the world or magnificent law. This view can be associated with the Augustinian belief that sinful acts are typically the result of misdirected judgments or misperceptions about what is truly great or evil.

The second part of the quote recommends that the natural guy's desires are naturally "desires of ignorance". Here, Gillespie likely ways that those who have not yet attained spiritual knowledge or understanding remain in a state of ignorance, and thus, their desires are naturally misaligned with divine will. This view aligns with the concept that spiritual and ethical growth requires an ongoing transformation of the mind-- a renewal that leads a private from lack of knowledge to knowledge.

Eventually, Gillespie stresses that sin is not merely about unethical acts, however is deeply rooted in an absence of understanding. He calls for intellectual and spiritual awakening as a remedy to sinfulness, suggesting that knowledge results in ethical clearness and virtuous living. By articulating the relationship between lack of knowledge and sin, Gillespie supplies a nuanced point of view that motivates both personal and intellectual growth within the ethical and spiritual realms.