21. That, therefore, the
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, that there dwelleth not in our
flesh good, that the law in our members is opposed to the law of
the mind, is not a mingling of two natures caused of contrary
principles, but a division of one against itself caused through
desert of sin. We were not so in Adam, before that nature, having
listened to and followed its deceiver, had despised and offended
its Creator: that is, not the former life of man created, but the
latter punishment of man condemned. From which condemnation when
set free by Grace, through Jesus Christ, being free they contend
with their punishment, having received not as yet full salvation,
but already a pledge of salvation: but when not set free, they are
both guilty by reason of sins, and involved in punishments. But
after this life for the guilty there will remain for ever
punishment for their crime: for the free there will no more remain
for ever either crime or punishment: but the good substances,
spirit and flesh, will continue for ever, which God, Who is good,
and incapable of change, created good although capable of change.
But they will continue having been changed for the better, never
from this time to be changed for the worse: all evil being utterly
destroyed, both what man hath unjustly done, and what he hath
justly suffered. And, these two kinds of evil perishing utterly,
whereof the one is of iniquity going before, the other of
unhappiness following after, the will of man will be upright
without any depravity. There it will be clear and plain to all,
what now many of the faithful believe, few understand, that evil is
not a substance: but that, as a wound in a body, so in a substance,
which hath made itself faulty, it hath begun to exist, when the
disease hath commenced, and ceaseth to exist in it, when the
healing hath been perfected. Therefore, all evil having arisen from
us, and having been destroyed in us, our good also having been
increased and perfected unto the height of most happy incorruption
and immortality, of what kind shall either of our substances be?
forasmuch as now, in this corruption and mortality, when as yet
“the corruptible body weigheth down the soul;”1879
| 1879 Wisdom 9.15" id="v.i.xxi-p2.1" parsed="|Wis|9|15|0|0" osisRef="Bible:Wis.9.15">Wisd. ix. 15 |
and, what
the
Apostle saith, “the body is dead by reason of
sin;”
1880
yet the
same himself beareth such witness unto our
flesh, that is, to our
lowest and earthly part, as to say, what I made mention of a little
above, “No one ever hated his own flesh.”
1881
And to add straightway, “but
nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ the
Church.”
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