Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

70 THE FIRST AND THE SECOND MAN.son of God had listened to the persuasion of God'schief enemy, and his fall from sonship had been,by the judgment of the offended Parent, not asimple fall from his supernatural estate, but a falllikewise into servitude to that enemy. This servitudealso, with the guilt of the nature in whichhe had sinned, Adam transmitted to the membersof his body in and by their nature. Adam withhis race was the captive taken in war by theenemy mj of God, f and the life which he was allowedto live had the condition of this servitude impressedon it, with this alleviation only, that theassistance of the divine grace offered to him bythe mercy of God in his state of penance couldprotect those who accepted it from the effects ofthis servitude, and ultimately deliver them-Here, then, is the condition of Adam's posterityin consequence of his fall; members of a Headwho had broken his allegiance to his Creator andFather, and so inheriting with their nature thedisinherited state into which he had cast himself;captives, moreover, of that powerful spirit, God'santagonist, who had tempted Adam, seduced him,and led himto his fall.Now the heathenism which we have beencontemplating is the carrying out in time andspace of this body of Adam in those who, by theirpersonal fault, fell away from the aids of gracewhich were accorded to man after his fall-aidsgiven first to Adam for the whole race, and then