Prior to embarking upon more exploration of the divine life, Scougal considers what he calls not so much a contrast as perhaps a subtext: the natural life, "our inclination and propensity toward those things which are pleasing and acceptable to nature, or self love issuing forth." He does oppose this natural life to faith and bases it in physicality. Interestingly, he does not equate this natural life with sin or "the natural man" of which Paul speaks in his epistles; instead, he claims it is the guiding principle of animals, which, when it is in control of a man, makes the man without faith wicked. When faith reigns over this natural life, the man is righteous.
I must confess that Scougal makes me nervous here. I fear he may be mistaken to draw a likeness between the life of animals and the life of the man without Christ. But I'll let him defend his position going forward.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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