capable of responding to the high claims of Divinity.
Being created under moral law and government, all the posterity of Adam have their existence under the same condition and arrangement, and, by virtue of their nature and relations, possess a moral character from and after the first moment of earthly being. But the stamp which Divinity placed on humanity was not ineffaceable; nor was it so stereotyped and changeless, as to be susceptible of no increase, or higher degree of perfection. It was held contingently: "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door."
As the mind of man unfolds its powers and advances in knowledge, his perception of God, and of what is true and right in respect to him, and his consciousness of moral character, good or bad, attain to a corresponding precision and maturity. If the facilities are perfect, and perfectly improved, there will be perfection in his knowledge of God, his conformity to the divine law, and in his moral and religious character. Under such conditions, and with such facilities and capacities, our race was first created, and with proper attention to the dictates of God and