Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 400

376

§70.

way

RELATION BKTWEEN THIS PRINCII'IUM

If

from what otherwise

cultivates ripe fruit of knoAvledge

would have produced only

now

wood

Ave investigate the

fit

[Div. Ill

for fire.

meaning

of this figure, entirely

clear by itself, it appears at once that the grafting of true upon wild wood is only possible because both, however

different in quality, are one, nevertheless, in disposition of

nature.

Grafting succeeds the better in proportion to the two kinds of wood,

closeness of correspondence between the

and if all relationship were wanting between wild and true wood, grafting would simply be impossible. For the subject in hand, this means that natural and special theology possess a higher unity, are allied to one another, and, by virtue and relationship, are capable of affecting each This higher unity lies (1) in God, (2) in man, and (3) in the purpose for which the life of grace, and conseIn God, quently the special knowledge, comes forward. because the principium of natural, as well as of special, knowledge lies in Him because He remains the object of of this unity other.

;

both kinds of knowledge and because the revelation of His grace is revelation of grace in Him who created natuSecondly, in man, since ral life for the glory of His name. draws knowledge ego that from both i^rinit is the same ;

since in this ego it is one and the same consciousness which this knowledge of God is taken up and since it no other kind of man, but the very man who fell, who And, finally, sinner needs the knowledge of this grace. the purpose of the special knowledge, which consists not

cipia in is

as in

;

;

in a cutting off of our natural of

that same

state

life,

which

is

life,

but in the restoration

ours by nature, into a normal

guaranteed against a new

fall.

Special

revelation

does not begin, therefore, by ignoring what has already

been effected by natural revelation, but unites itself to this in so positive a sense, that without these sparks (scintillae) and for or remnants (rudera) it were itself unthinkable this reason Reformed Theology has ever resisted the Lutheran representation as though the sinner were merely " a stock ;

or block."

If the ^ seed of religion "

sinner, he

would not be susceptible

did not operate in the to special

revelation.

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