Now, between that being as essentially independent and man as essentially dependent there springs forth an essential relation which does not come from the will of man, but comes wholly and entirely from the existence of the two terms, God and man.
An example from the natural order will help to clarify that thought, The relationship existing between futher and his son is an essen relation. It springs from the ture of things as they actually are in the natural order, With the actual existence of the father and so that relationship automatically comes into being, and so long as existence ca-dures just so long does that reiationship remain unchanged and unchangeable and neither can do a single thing about it except to si: mit to reality. It is physically possible for both the father and the son to deny the relationship: they may obtain a declaration from a civil court to the effect that the relationship does not exist; it is Possible for them to get an opinion from every individual of the human race to the same effect, but what difference would that make? None whatever. The father would still be the father and the son would still be the son. If de facto the rel; tionship exists, it cannot be touched by all the king's horses and all the kings men.
From that essential relation born mutual rights, duties and obligations, If the father lives up to hi rights, duties and obligations he called a good father; if he does not. he is said to be a bad father. And in like manner the son, If he lives in accordance with his essential relations as son, he is a good son; if he does not, he is a bad son. Their goodness or badness as father and son depend upon the practical living of the essential relation existing between them.
Thus it is between God and man.
Between God and every individual of the human race there necessarily exists an essential relation which is determined by existence. Man is not free to have or not to have that relation. He is, however, physically free to live according to that relation or not, but he is not morally free.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.