ld the parents be holy, the child will
possess a carnal nature, because it is the nature of all the race.

How holy parents beget children depraved in nature is a puzzling problem
to some minds, especially to those who are busying themselves about the
intricate matters of God. This need be no more puzzling than a deformed
parent begetting perfectly formed children. Nature, in embryo, begins its
work of forming both the physical and moral image of the child, which is
after the similitude of the original parents and not the immediate ones.
While justification, which is the forgiveness of actual transgression, the
inevitable result of a depraved nature, is a wonderful and glorious
achievement of grace, it is but a very small part of the redemption of
Christ. The supernatural overthrow of the depraved nature by the power of
the Holy Spirit is the principal and real redemptive work. The pardon of
committed sins is the clearing away of the rubbish, or preparation work,
for the Third Person in the Holy Trinity to effect a revolution in the
nature of man. Halleluiah to God! This change in nature is more wonderful
than the revolting of nature at the command of Joshua. Man now, instead of
being depraved in nature, is restored to his original holy nature.

This destruction of the carnal nature and the restoration of the original
nature is accomplished by the Holy Spirit at the moment of his reception
as an indwelling Comforter. Peter teaches this truth when he says: "God,
which knoweth the hearts [or nature], bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us [at Pentecost]; and put no difference
between us and them [Gentiles], purifying their hearts by faith." Acts
15:8, 9. Purifying the heart is the purification of man's affections, or
nature. This is accomplished at the time of the giving of the Holy Ghost
as declared in the last text; and this purifying of the hearts of the
Gentiles at the giving of the Holy Ghost, is just what was done for the
apostles at Pentecost. This is a plain, undeniable fact taught in this
text. To turn to philosophizing upon how we can be conceived with a carnal
nature, or how we can be converted and yet be depraved in nature is to
soon become spoiled through vain deceit after the rudiments of the world
and not after Christ. Col. 2:8. In the very nature of things, and
according to the Word of God, pardon of sins necessarily precedes the
destruction of the carnal, depraved nature by t