In order, therefore, to delineate in vivid colouring the misery of our condition, the sacred Scripture compares us to those who have lost the natural sense of taste, and who, in consequence, loathing wholesome food, relish only what is unwholesome. It also compares us to sick persons, for as they, whilst in a weak state, are unable to fill those offices, or discharge those duties, which require the vigour and activity of health; so, neither can we, without the assistance of divine grace, perform those actions which are acceptable to God. Should we even, thus unassisted, be able to accomplish some good, it is but trivial, and of little or no advantage towards the attainment of salvation. To love and serve God as we ought is more than our natural strength can accomplish in our present feeble condition, unless assisted by the grace of God.
Another most appropriate comparison is that by which we are likened to children, who, with a fickleness characteristic of their age, are, if left to their own discretion, hastily caught by every thing that presents itself. We, indeed, are children, the moment we are destitute of the divine protection: like them we too are the dupes of our own imprudence; and no less silly, we amuse ourselves with frivolous conversations, and fritter away our time in unprofitable pursuits. Wisdom, therefore, reproves us in the words: " O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves;" [1] and the Apostle thus exhorts us: " Do not become children in sense." [2] We, however, are the dupes of greater folly and grosser error than children: they may, as they advance in years, arrive at the wisdom of manhood; but, unless guided and assisted from above, we can never aspire to the divine wisdom which is necessary to salvation. Unassisted by God, and having spurned those things which are really good, we rush on voluntary destruction.
Should, however, the soul emerge from the darkness in which it is enveloped, and discover in the light of divine grace the miseries which encompass her; should man, awakening from the lethargy which oppressed his faculties, feel the law of the members, and the desires of sense, opposed to the spirit; should he despise the evil propensities of his nature which incline him to evil; must he not seek an effectual remedy for the enormous mass of misery entailed on us by the corruption of nature? Will he not sigh for the happiness which attends a conformity with the holy will of God, which is, and ought to be the rule of a Christian life. This it is that we implore, when we address these words to God: " Thy will be done." Having fallen into this state of misery by disobeying and despising the divine will, God vouchsafes to propose to us, as the sole corrective of all our evils, a conformity to his holy will, which by sinning we despised: he commands us to regulate all our thoughts and actions by this standard; and for the accomplishment of
