The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

POPISH DOCTRINE OF THE FALL.27oM. Pcrrone fortifies his statement by an appeal to theopinions of Cardinals Cajctan and Bellarmine, both of whomhave expressed themselves on the subject of the Fall interms very similar to those employed by the Professor inthe Collegio Romano. The difference, says Cajetan, betweenfallen nature and pure nature,—not nature as it existedin the case of Adam, who was clothed with supernaturalgifts, but nature, as the Romish divines phrase it,in puris naturalibus,—may be expressed in one word. Thedifference is the same as that which exists between the manwho has been despoiled of his clothing, and the man whonever had any. " We do not distinguish between the two,"argues the Cardinal, " on the ground that the one is morenude than the other, for that is not the case. In like manner,a nature in puris naturalibus, and a nature despoiledof original grace and righteousness, do not differ in this,that the one is more destitute than the other ; but the greatdifference lies here, that the defect in the one case is npt afault, or punishment, or injury ;whereas in the other,—thatof a fallen nature,—there is a corrupt condition, and thedefect is to be regarded as both a fault and punishment."*When the Cardinal uses the phrase, " a corrupt condition,"he means to express an idea, we apprehend, which Protestantswould more fittingly designate by the terms " denudedcondition ;" for certainly the Cardinal intends to teach thattheconstitution of man has not suffered more seriously bynaturalem per gratiam sanctificantem, turn iutegritas naturae non fueruntliumante naturae debita, sed dona fuerunt gratuita homini a divina largitateconcessa, ita ut Deus potuerit absolute sine illis Iiominem condere^Igitur homo per peccatum non amisit nisi ea qute superaddita a Dei liberalitateillius naturae fuerunt. Sen, quod idem est, homo per peccatum adeum se redegit statum in quo absolute creatus fuisset, si Deus caeteradona minime addidisset, tum pro hac turn pro altera vita." (PrajlectionesTheologicae, torn. i. p. 774.)* Card. Cajetan. in Comm. [quoted from Perrone's Pra^lectiones Theologicae,tom. i. p. 774.] " QuiE (differentia inter naturam in puris naturalibuset naturam lapsam), ut unico vex'bo dicatur, tanta est quanta estinter personam nudam ab initio et personam exspoliatam."