The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 287

—

X.

Adam Not

Innocent, but Holy. " Created in righteousness and true holiness."

It remains, therefore, as of old, that " after

created

iv. 24.

man good and

and holiness, Him, eternal happiness, and glorify and praise

His own image, that

that he might rightly

God

Ephts.

is,

in true righteousness

know God

his Creator, heartily love

and live with Him in Him." Or, as the Confession of Faith has it " We believe that God created man, out of the dust of the earth, and made him and formed him after His own image and likeness, good and righteous and wholly capable in all things to will, agreeably to the will of :

God."

Every representation which depreciates in the least this origmust be opposed. Adam's righteousness lacked nothing. The idea that he was holy inasmuch as he had not sinned, and by constant development could increase his holiness, so that if he had not fallen he would have attained a still holier state, is incorrect, and betrays ignorance

inal righteousness

in this respect.

between man in his original state and in the between a healthy child and a sick man. Both must increase in strength. If the child remains what he is, he is not healthy. Health includes growth and increase of strength and development until maturity be attained. The same He must reis true of the sick man he can not remain the same. cover or grow worse. If he is to recover, he must gain in strength.

The

difference

state of sin is similar to that

;

So

far

both are the same.

But here the similarity ceases. Increase the strength of the sick But add the at once, and he will be well, and what he should be. full strength of the man to the child, and he will be unnatural and He abnormal. For the present the child needs no more than he has. lacks nothing sX any given moment. To be a normal child in perfect

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