(4) Man’s conscience was at peace with God; and internal peace implies external peace as well. Paradise was a place of perfect peace, for the elements were tranquil, the animals were in subjection, nourishment was in abundance.
Had this state of peace continued, man would not have died, but he would have been translated to Heaven without death.
(5) But alas! all this was forfeited by sin; and man was spoiled of his graces, and wounded in his faculties.
He lost original righteousness, and with its loss his tranquillity was disturbed, his flesh became unbridled, his intellect parched, his will depraved, his memory disturbed.
(6) Creation was moreover armed against him, so that earth was no more ready to nourish him spontaneously; but he was constrained to labour in the sweat of his brow for his daily bread.
B. And now we are led to a consideration of the Gospel for the day, which speaks of fallen man, and of fallen man working, and working moreover to recover the conditions which he had before he fell.
The Gospel is full of doctrine and dogma suited to all conditions of men.
