Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 399

Chap.

AND THE NATURAL PRINCIPIUM

II]

375

that the Bible is a pair of spectacles which enables us to read the Divine writing in nature, may be insufhcient as an explanation of the problem in hand in any case it cuts off ;

absolutely every representation that the idea of natural and special theology as two concurrent magnitudes is derived from Calvin. If we might choose another metaphor to explain the relation between the two, entirely in the spirit of Calvin but more fully, the figure of the grafted tree pleases us most. He who grafts, plants no new tree, but applies himself to one that exists. That tree is alive, it draws its sap from the roots,

but this vital sap

tree can bear

no

wild, in consequence of

is

fruit that

is

And now

desired.

which the

the grafter

comes, and inserts a nobler graft, and thereby brings it to pass that this vital sap of the wild tree is changed, so that the desired fruit

now

graft does not stand in

it

;

and

if

ripens on the branches.

by the

the grafting

is

This new

side of the wild tree, but

a success,

it

may

is

equally well

be said that the true graft lives by the old tree, as that is of use solely because of the new

the uncultivated tree

And such, indeed, is the case here. The wild tree the sinner, in whose nature works the natural principium of the knowledge of God as an inborn impelling power. If graft.

is

you leave

this natural principium to itself, you will never have anything else than tvild wood, and the fruit of knowledge does not come. But when the Lord our God introduces from without, and thus from another principium, a shoot of

a true plant, even the principle of a pure

knowledge into man, then there is not a man hy the side of a man, no knowledge by the side of a knowledge, but the wild energy remains active in this human nature, i.e. incomplete knowledge while the ingrafted this wild tree, i.e. into this natural

;

new principium is

brings

it

to pass, that this impelling

changed and produces the

fruit of true

power

knowledge. The sjjeeial knowledge is, indeed, a new and proper principium, but this principium joins itself to the vital powers of our nature with its natural principium compels this principium to let its life-sap flow through another channel and in this ;

;

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen