Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 393

Chap.

AND THE NATURAL PRINCIPIUM

II]

As

stated above, the natural principium

369

not only

may

not be ignored, but is even permanent and lasting, while tlie special principium falls away as soon as its task is

Only with

ended.

this

A

twofold principium. is

can

reservation

Ave

speak of a

twofold principium of knowledge

thinkable with reference to different objects,

as,

for in-

God and the cosmos but not, as in this case, wdth In both cases indeed, in natural reference to God alone. and in revealed theology, we speak of knowledge of God, of stance,

;

knowledge, therefore, of the same God, and of knowledge of the same God to be obtained by the same subject, i.e. man, or more correctly, humanity. No doubt a temporary inability in man may render the knowledge of God no more sufficiently possible for him in the normal way, and thus it must be supplied in an abnormal way but this does not modify the fundamental plan, and the outcome must ;

ever be, that the knoivledge of God is imparted to humanity and hence in only 07ie ivay. At present nature

in the normal,

but in the end, in no more question of grace. All that the Holy Scripture teaches concerning the knowledge of God in its consummation, aims, indeed, at a condition in which the abnormality of the ordinance of redemption falls entirely away, and whatever was grounded in creation returns, but carried up to its end (reXo'i'). In part it even seems as though Christ then effaces Himself, stands temporarily over against grace

;

glorified nature, there will be

in order that it

may be "God

before His death pointed His disciples to the Father, saying

:

Even as Christ away from Himself

all in all."

" I say not unto you, that I will pray

the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you."

This implies at the same time, that the eternally enduring of God, possessed by the redeemed, shall not be after the nature of the special, but according to the nature of the natural principium. However rich the dispensation

knowledge

of grace

may

be, it ever

remains a bandage applied to the

injured part of the body, and

When in

the

wound of tlie common way. it

a

is

never that

vital

part

itself.

throat prevents the taking of food ma}' be brought into the

stomach

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