1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

B.--But did not God implant in his creature that very thirst forknowledge which led him to an act of disobedience in order togratify it? Does it not seem, too, that he wanted him to becomeacquainted with evil, and, if so, why should he attach a penaltyto the sinful act, knowing that a knowledge of evil could beobtained in no other way?A.--We can see readily that a knowledge of evil could beR250 : page 5obtained in no way except by its introduction; and, remember,Adam could not have disobeyed if God had given nocommandment, and every command must have a penaltyattached to give it force. Therefore, I claim that God not onlyforesaw man's fall into sin but designed it: it was a part of hisplan. God permitted, nay, designed man's fall; and why?Because, having the remedy provided for his release from itsconsequences, he saw that the result would be to lead man to aknowledge, through experience, which would enable him to seethe bitterness and blackness of sin--"the exceeding sinfulness ofsin," and the matchless brilliancy of virtue in contrast with it;thus teaching him the more to love and honor his Creator, who isthe fountain and source of all goodness, and to forever shun thatwhich brought so much woe and misery. So the final result isgreaterR251 : page 5love for God, and greater hatred of all that is opposed to him.The best armament against temptation is knowledge.C.--Your reasoning is clear, forcible, and, would seem to me,plausible, were it not that this experience and knowledge cametoo late to benefit the human family. Adam failed from want ofknowledge and experience to maintain uprightness of character --his posterity, though possessing that knowledge and experience,fail to attain uprightness from lack of ability occasioned by hissin.B.--I can see no objection to your view, that evil was permittedbecause necessary to man's development and designed for hisultimate good, were it not as Brother C. suggests--mankind willnever have an opportunity to make use of the experience andknowledge thus obtained. But, Brother A., what did you mean afew minutes since when you said God had a remedy providedfor man's release from the effects of the fall before he fell?A.--God foresaw that having given man freedom of choice, hewould, through lack of knowledge, accept evil when disguisedas an "angel of light;" and, also, that becoming acquainted withit, he would still choose it, because that acquaintance wouldR251 : page 6