The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-24
activity without WEAKNESS, service with

MANS ORIGINAL CONDITION.
Our second thought is, that God Ola
not mako Adam and Eve with like pas
sions as we have now, but pure and holy
Our present corrupt passions are the
result of the fall-the curse for, or grow
ing out of, sin lie made them, as God
only could make an intelligent being,
moral free agents, or otherwise they
would have been merely automatons or
machines to work only as the creator
compelled them. n machine cannot either
be rewarded or punished. There must
be a free exercise of yolition in order
to make any being responsible; hence
God made the first pair subject both to
obedience and disobedience, and fixed the
reward and the punishment, according as
their conduct might be; and, as tempta-
ton is not sin, He permitted the DeVls,
III his evil course, to tempt thenl
in order to test and prove thenl-trial is
necessary to prove fidelity. Until 1rce
agent is tried he can neither be rewarded
or punished, as his acts must be those
of choice or volitiOn and we cannot tell
what his choice will be unless both good
and evil are put before him and within
his reach. The like vOlition obtains with
the angelic hosts, and SO Satan rebelled,
with the angels that fell. Man, pure and
holy, had his opportunity, and man o. MS
own volition rebelled.
TEMPTATION AND SUBSTITUTION.
Did man, pure and holy, fall, and thus
bring disaster and ruin on himself ana
posterity, which as yet were a part or
himself unborn? Did Justice and unalter-
able law of God demand his death? How,
then could he escape the execution OF
the sentence and Justice be satisfied?
Why, only for a perfect man, pure and
holy as the offender was originally, to
die in his place-the penalty must be
inflicted, and a perfect man could only
be a ransom sufficient to restore a guilty
man to his former estate, and so Mercy
provided ooh, the depths of that loveo
that the son of God, the only beSOtten
in the bosom of the Father though
rich, yet for our slkes should become
Door" Poor how? Why, by laying aside
His spiritual nature, He became man,
the SECOND Adam-'the Word was made
(strictly, became) lesh'-and this revela-
ton from our Father, I think, explains
the subject. The Son Of God surrendered
His spiritual nature for the time, and
became nesh''-"was made in the like
ness Of sinful flesh: took not upon
Him (even the nature OF angels and
being found in fashion as a man he
humbled Himself and became obedient
unto death'-a perfect man as Adam was
before he sinned-a perfect substitute.
He could not die as a God to be Adam s
redeemer, for a God had not sinned, but
as Il ransom-a corresponding prlce-He
died as a perfect man, 1.-The just tor the
unjust that He might bring us to God.
and hence Invested of His divinity, SO
far as His sufferings and death were con-
cerncd. as a perfect Adam He also volun-
tarily became subject to our CONDITION
of free agency, and "trod the wine-press
alone" and fought the battle only IN
Adams original strength, and not as q
God-otilerwise how could lie, being
rich" for our sakes, become poor.
Thank God! He fought and was victor
ious. and it is through this victory-"His
Righteousness and not ours-that we are
saved He did it by divine gcace. sup
piled by His Father, and not by His own
divine power, as 1 understand 1t; by
..strcng crying and tears unto Him that
was able to save His soul from death.
The Lord Jesus never used His DIVINE
mower in behalf Of Himself, but being
tempted as we are" He accomplished
for US, as the second ADAM what the
first Adam failed in; ''and, being made
perfect through suffering" and his pray
ers and victorious conflict with the Devil,
..God has highly honored Him and given
Him a name above every name, ana
He has become the author OF eternal
salvation to all who believe in Him, ana
who rest their cases in His hands ana
on His righteousness. Glory De 10 the
Father. and to the Son and to the Holy
Ghost: Jesus was tempted in all points
like as we are, and because He did not
sin or WELD. we are saved! ''The Captain
of our Salvation, perfect through suffer
ing, BY His resurrection lie assumed
again His divine nature complete, ana
lifted man to fellowship and unison win
God. CHARLES N. FRIEND.
Richmond, Va. March II.