194 ORIGINAL SIN 



that the mystery in question may not be defined and 

 maintained in terms that nulHfy the general vahdity 

 for mankind of the promises of God and of our re- 

 sponsibihty for obedience to the revealed will of God.^ 



The conclusions to which we are driven by every 

 consideration that can rightly determine our view of 

 the matter are that the mystery of predestination can 

 be apprehended only in an incipient form, and one 

 which precludes definition ; that it may not be accepted 

 in a manner that either alters or subverts other truths, 

 made known to us by revelation and experience; and 

 that no inferences can be made from it which are either 

 sufficiently certain or comprehensive enough in their 

 bearing to justify our use of them in determining and 

 defending catholic doctrine. A critical example of 

 error in this regard is the theory of irresistible grace, 

 which was broached incidentally by St. Augustine, 

 was involved in much scholastic theology, and was 

 erected into a dogma by modern Calvinism. Such a 

 theory is logically subversive of human responsibility, 

 and of the cathohc doctrine of sin; and is therefore to 

 be passed by in our argument, as non-relevant to our 

 purpose. 



2. A second opinion which ought carefully to be 

 dissociated from biblical and cathohc doctrine is the 

 view that the guilt of Adam, using the word guilt in 

 its strict and literal sense, has been transmitted to all 

 of his descendants, so that new-born infants are to 



* See Bishop Forbes, Bishop Gibson, E. T. Green, and B. J. Kidd 

 on The Thirty-nine Articles, Art. xvii. 



