“We believe that God created man out of the dust of the earth, and made and formed him after his own image and likeness, good, righteous, and holy, capable in all things to will, agreeably to the will of God. But being in honor, he understood it not, neither knew his excellency, but willfully subjected himself to sin, and consequently to death, and the curse, giving ear to the words of the devil. For the commandment of life, which he had received, he transgressed; and by sin separated himself from God, who was his true life, having corrupted his whole nature; whereby he made himself liable to corporal and spiritual death. And being thus become wicked, perverse, and corrupt in all his ways, he hath lost all his excellent gifts, which he had received from God, and only retained a few remains thereof, which, however, are sufficient to leave man without excuse; for all the light which is in us is changed into darkness, as the Scriptures teach us, saying: The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not: where St. John calleth men darkness. Therefore we reject all that is taught repugnant to this, concerning the free will of man, since man is but a slave to sin; and has nothing of himself, unless it is given from heaven. For who may presume to boast, that he of himself can do any good, since Christ saith, No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him? Who will glory in his own will, who understands God? Who can speak of his knowledge, since the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God? In short, who dare suggest any thought, since he knows that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but that our sufficiency is of God? And therefore what the apostle saith ought justly to be held sure and firm, that God worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. For there is no will nor understanding, conformable to the divine will and understanding, but what Christ hath wrought in man; which he teaches us, when he saith, Without me ye can do nothing.”
This article speaks:
I. Of man’s creation and his state of rectitude:
A. His creation:
1. Formed out of the dust of the ground:
a. That he is made out of the dust of the ground means that he is related to the earth: he is earthy.
b. That God formed him out of the dust, and not simply called him forth out of the ground as the animals, at the same time suggests at once that he is exalted above the earth.
2. Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life:
a. This is not mentioned in the article.
b. It means that he is also related to God and the spiritual world.
c. Thus, i.e., by this twofold act of God, man became a living soul.
B. His exalted state:
1. Created after God’s image:
a. In general this means that:
1) He was made a creature capable of bearing God’s image: a rational and moral creature;
2) that he actually resembled God in a creaturely way and measure.
b. Particularly, as to its contents, the image of God includes:
1) according to the article: that he was good, righteous, and holy.
2) to this should be added: that he was endowed with the true knowledge of God.
2. Made capable to will God’s will:
a. Thus the article: capable in all things to will agreeably to the will of God.
b. This was Adam’s true freedom.
c. At the same time, he had not attained to the highest freedom: he could turn about and fall into sin and death.
II. His fall and condition after the fall:
A. His fall:
1. A willful subjection to sin:
a. There was nothing in his nature that impelled him to sin.
b. Nor was there anything outside of him that compelled him to sin.
c. His sin was willful: he understood not his being in honor, nor knew his excellency, i.e., he regarded them not.
2. A transgression of the commandment of life:
a. The law of his covenant God.
b. Negatively presented to him in the “probationary command.”
3. Giving ear to the devil:
a. He rejected the Word of God.
b. To hear and obey the word of the devil: the lie. All sin is the lie.
B. His condition after the Fall:
1. He is liable to death:
a. Corporal.
b. Spiritual:
1) darkened in his understanding: all the light that is in him is changed to darkness;
2) unholy and corrupt in his whole nature: his righteousness and holiness are turned into the reverse;
3) perverse in all his ways: this refers to his actual life and walk in the world.
2. The few remains:
a. The article states that he lost all his excellent gifts, and retained only a few remains.
b. This refers to his natural light and power, of which he has sufficient to leave him without excuse.