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THEOLOGY IN 1743 AND 1744. 1105
"In every particular thought, and even in that which we consider
pure, an infinite quantity of sin and impurity is contained, and
likewise in every desire which enters from the body into the
thoughts .... Although, therefore, a thought may appear pure, it,
nevertheless, is a fact that a person may think in a certain way
from timidity, hypocrisy, and many other causes, which also may be
traced out by an examination of the thoughts; so that on this
account man is the more unable to free himself from sin, and there
is not a single thought which is not very much alloyed with unclean
ness and impurity. It is therefore best that man should every hour
and every moment acknowledge that he is deserving of the punish
ment of hell, but that God’s grace and mercy which is in Jesus
Christ overlooks this." Again we read, "Our whole will into which
we are born, and which is ruled by the body, and introduces thought
that is opposed to the Spirit . . . . Hence it is that we are dead
to everything which is good, but to everything evil we are inclined
from ourselves" (no. 64).
"In order to receive good we must climb up to God ; and this
does not lie in our own power, even though we suppose that we
are able to do so from our own strength" (no. 67).
"Everything that comes from ourselves is dead, and is nothing but
sin, and worthy of eternal damnation ; for good can come from no
other source except from the Lord" (no. 138).
"Christ, or God through Christ, must be all in all, so that we of
ourselves cannot contribute the least towards it, and still less strive
for it : wherefore it is best to surrender at discretion, and were it
possible to be altogether passive in this matter, it would be a state
of perfection" (no. 194).
"They who will strive to help themselves into the kingdom
of heaven by their own effort, or to rise on high by themselves,
labour in vain and are exposed to constant danger; which labour
becomes light, when they address themselves to God, who is man’s
help in such a case" (no. 197).
VIII. The Efficacy of Grace. On the subject of grace we read
in the Adversaria, as follows, "After the human race had been
condemned to eternal death, i. e. to eternal torments and eternal
punishments, there was nothing whatever left by which they could
.
be raised and snatched from hell itself, except that Jehovah, the
Father, should behold them in His Son ; there was nothing left,
therefore, but pure grace through Him who received the damnation
of all in Himself, and by this means merited for the human race
that grace from Jehovah, the Father. Whence it is that there is
nothing in man which in any, not even in the least respect, can be
70
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