126 Some Implications of the Jncarnation [CH. 



ways this seems to be subject to the same laws as bodily 

 evolution. Jndeed, it is hard to see how it could be 

 otherwise, for evolution is one process ; the whole world 

 is a definite means to a definite end. 



Thus we found indicated at least a possibility that 

 man was barred out from God not only by the imper- 

 fection involved in his own individual sins, but also by 

 a radical taint of imperfection in the whole human race, 

 due to the misdirection of conscious evolution. It is 

 true that with human beings a new factor has come into 

 play the will. But the will is a thing of the individual, 

 not of the race, and it is hard to see therefore, that it 

 can have any bearing on the existence of a race-taint. 



If our analysis of original sin was just, or if there be 

 anything at all that is true in the doctrine of original 

 sin, it would seem as if Christ must either be affected 

 with the stain of humanity's misdirection of its own evo- 

 lution, or else as if there must be something not perfectly 

 and normally human in the nature of His Manhood. 



The alternatives both involve serious difficulties. If 

 He was tainted with original sin, in the sense we have 

 given to the words above, how could He be exempt from 

 the consequences of the barrier between man and God 

 that it set up? If He was not so tainted, can He be 

 called perfect man? 



Before discussing these difficulties it may be well to 

 face an objection that might naturally, though not, I 

 think, altogether legitimately, be raised to a discussion 

 of even the possibility of original sin affecting our Lord. 

 The objection lies in applying the word sin, however 

 reverently the question be considered, to any part of 

 the nature of the sinless Saviour. With this point of 

 view I have the strongest sympathy. It is certainly 

 right. But it only applies to the unfortunate phrase 

 original sin a legacy from earlier theology, with whose 

 literal meaning very many Christians of to-day entirely 



