Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/24

20 at the same time in that collective body of men, of whom consisted the first or most ancient church on this earth. The way, in which that church fell, was the same as that in which every succeeding church has fallen: each church, when arrived at maturity, has had it's man and it's woman; each has been placed in a garden similar to that of Eden, though not so highly cultivated, nor so rich in product; each however has had it's tree of life in the midst, it's tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it's delicious fruits, and it's seducing serpent. And if we trace the progress of evil, we shall find, that all these successive churches, all the individuals composing them, and all who have descended from them, or in any way been related to them, in short, all the families of mankind, all, all have eaten of the forbidden fruit; they have all, more or less, suffered themselves to be deceived by the delusive pleasures of self-love and the love of the world.

From the preceding observations it evidently appears, that man, by the abuse of his faculties of liberty and rationality, with which he was originally endued, perverted the order in which he was created, confirmed himself in states of infidelity and moral depravity, and at length plunged himself into unspeakable miseries and calamities, from which there could have been no recovery, but by the interposition of the divine mercy, wisdom, and omnipotence. The Creator himself, therefore, compassionating his helpless, fallen offspring, immediately announces to them his purpose of effecting their restoration; and in the mean time makes a true faith in the future Messiah the condition of their present acceptance with him, and of their eternal salvation hereafter.