HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN.
THE Church of God has been called to engage in a continual conflict,
not only with external enemies, but, much more, with corruptions and
heresies within her own bosom. The whole scheme of grace was devised
for the purpose of revealing to the creatures the truth concerning the
nature and perfections of God; and it is carried on through a testimony
thereto. The principal exertions, therefore, of the father of lies havo
always been directed to the object of silencing or corrupting the church,
-which is the pillar and ground of the truth,- -so as to prevent her testi-
mony to that doctrine which is according to godliness, by the instru
mentality of which his sceptre is broken and his slaves set free. At the
same time, the King of Zion, who is Head over all things to the church,
has permitted and overruled these machinations of the Serpent, so as to
induce among his own people a clearer apprehension, and more affec-
tionate embrace, of the truth. As often as the spirit of error has come
in, the Spirit of the Lord has lifted up a standard against it. All needful
truth was, from the beginning, deposited in the sacred oracles. But
much of the testimony therein contained has always lain unappre-
hended, until the oppositions of false science have brought it into ques-
tion. Then has been fulfilled the promise of our Saviour:-" When he,
the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."-John xvi.
13. Thus, from age to age, has the doctrine of God been gradually un-
folded in clearer light, and comprehended in a growing fulness by the
true Israel of God.
Of this mode of the divine economy, the history of the doctrine of
Original Sin presents an interesting example. The essential principles
of this doctrine were indeed held from the beginning; but their precise
significance, relations and boundaries, in the system of truth, have only
been recognised and defined by a gradual process, through many conflicts
with grievous heresies.