Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

60 THE FIRST AND THE SECOND MAN.descended from one, it represents him as havingcome into such a state. To understand this wemust contemplate the original creation, the fall ofman, and its consequences, in their several bearingson each other, which will then lead us on tothe nature and mode of the restoration.In speaking of the creation of man we mayfirst consider the union of the soul and body simplyby themselves ; that is, in order to obtain aclear view of our subject, we may form to ourselvesa purely ideal state of simple nature. Sucha state would include two things; one positive, theother negative.3 Positively, human nature in thiscondition would have all natural faculties in theiressential perfection, and the assistance and providenceof God naturally due to it : negatively, itwould have nothing superadded to nature, nothingnot due to it, whether evil or good, thatis, neither sin on the one hand, and what followssin, the guilt which entails punishment, i nor onthe other hand any gifts of grace, or perfectionsnot due to nature.Human nature, if created in such a state, wouldhave no supernatural end ; its end would be tolove God with a natural love, as the Author andRuler of the world.Of such a state it is requisite for our presentpurpose to say only two things further. The first,that it is not contrary to any attribute of God to8 Suarez, de Gratia, Proleg. 4, cap. i. sec. 3.