THE BEGINNINGS OF GRACE
God is our supreme Master. We have no claims on Him. He has no obligations towards us, and is actuated only by His infinite equity and love and gratuitous generosity. In particular, the higher state which transcends nature is beyond all our requirements and all our power of earning it. When we had lost it in Adam, God was in no way bound to restore it to us; and still less when, after it had been restored, we forfeited it again by our own personal revolt. Even if God had left us in the simply natural state to carry out a temporal work here as part of the general cosmic process, and then to cease from existence like the beasts even that would have been an immense favour for us, and beyond our deserts. But God has chosen to make a new beginning with us, and to bring about the accomplishment of His original design in another way. He has not straightway replaced us in the state of integrity and the fulness of supernatural life from which we had fallen. That has now become a progressive work, proceeding from small beginnings and gradually mounting to its perfection. "The path of the just, like a shining light, goeth forward and increaseth even to perfect day" (Prov. iv. 18). Be grateful that He has not left you in your fallen state, but started you afresh. Strive earnestly and pray that "He who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. i. 6).
