Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/63

 Moreover, on  its  observance  depended  their  own  happiness  and  that of their  descendants,  for  Almighty  God  had  threatened  them  with death if  they  disobeyed  Him. They also  transgressed  the  command wilfully, as  explained  above. Their sin  was,  therefore,  a mortal  sin, and a very  grievous  one. It was  not  only  one  sin,  but  many. It was a sin of  proud  revolt,  of  unbelief,  of  lust,  of  disobedience,  and  of  ingratitude. God had  shown  them  so  much  love  and  had  given  them  so much  that  they  owed  Him  the  greatest  gratitude; instead  of  which  they repaid Him  with  the  grossest  ingratitude. Moreover, the  command  was one which  they  could  easily  have  kept;  for  they  were  possessed  of  greater knowledge than  we  are,  and  knew  God’s  infinite  love,  holiness,  and justice much  better  than  we  do.

The consequences  of  their  sin  were  very  grave.  Satan  had  pretended that  by  their  disobedience  they  would  be  raised,  and  become  as God;  but  the  very  opposite  took  place. They were  now  cast  down from their  former  high  position,  and  were  less  like  God  than  they  had been, because  they  had  lost  sanctifying  grace  and  all  other  supernatural gifts. Having renounced  God  by  their  sin,  they  were  no  longer  His children and  heirs  of  heaven,  but  had  become  children  of  the  devil  and heirs of  hell  1 They  still  retained  the  natural  gifts  which  made  them like to  God,  but  even  these  gifts  were  marred. Their reason  was obscured, so  that  they  could  no  longer  recognize  the  truth  as  they  had done, as  was  proved  by  the  foolish  way  in  which  they  tried  to  hide themselves from  God. Their hearts  and  wills  were  now  infected  by evil;  sinful  inclinations  were  kindled  in  their  hearts,  of  which  they  felt ashamed, and  which  made  them  hide  themselves. Their happiness  was gone. They were  still  in  paradise,  and  paradise  was  as  beautiful  as ever,  but  they  felt  miserable,  because  their  consciences  were  guilty  and their hearts  were  full  of  fear  and  unrest. “Tribulation and  anguish  is on  every  soul  of  man  that  worketh  evil”  (Rom.  2,  9). Those only  are happy who  have  a good  conscience,  and  the  peace  of  God  in  their hearts. All the  possessions  in  the  world  cannot  make  a man  happy  if he  has  not  got  inward  peace. But there  is  no  peace  for  the  wicked.

Original sin.  The  sin  of  our  first  parents  injured  not  only  themselves but  also  all  their  posterity. Their supernatural  gifts  were  given to them  not  for  themselves  alone,  but  for  all  those  who  were  to  come after them. If Adam  and  Eve  had  preserved  these  gifts,  their  children would have  inherited  them,  and  would  have  come  into  the  world  in a state  of  grace. But our  first  parents  having  sinned,  and  being  no longer  in  a state  of  grace,  their  sinfulness  has  passed  down  to  their children, so  that  men  are  now  born  into  the  world  in  a state  of  sin. The loss  of  grace  with  all  its  supernatural  gifts  in  the  children  born of Adam  is  a matter  of  great  displeasure  and  wrath  to  God,  because contrary to  His  divine  will  and  institution. Thus they  are  children of wrath.