(John iii. 5). 2. 'I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind' (Rom. vii. 23). 'The imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth' (Gen. viii. 21). 3. 'Great labor is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam, from the day of their birth until the day of their burial' (Ecclus. xl. 1). 'God created man incorruptible; but by the envy of the devil death came into the world' (Wisd. ii. 23, 27). This doctrine of Divine revelation is confirmed by experience, and by the sad history of mankind (comp. Rom. vii. 18-24).
86. Did the fatal consequences of sin fall upon man only?
The punishment of God was also inflicted upon the earth, which had been created for man.
'Cursed is the earth in thy work,' said God to Adam; 'with labor and toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee' (Gen. iii. 17, 18).
87. What would have become of man, if God had not shown him mercy?
No one could have received grace and been saved.
88. Why could no one have any more received grace?
Because the Divine justice demanded a satisfaction adequate to the sin; and no creature, but least of all man, who had fallen so deeply, was able to give such satisfaction.
89. How did God show mercy to man?
He promised him a Saviour, who, by a full satisfaction, should take sin away from him, and regain for him grace and the right of inheriting the kingdom of Heaven (Gen. iii. 15).
'Therefore, as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came unto all men to condemnation; so also by the justice of one [Christ] grace came unto all men to justification of life; . . . that as sin hath reigned to death, so also grace might reign by justice unto life everlasting' (Rom. v. 18, 21).
90. If without the grace of the Redeemer no one can be saved, how then could those who lived before the coming of Christ go to Heaven?
