F 00 - CHAPTER VI Evil Origin Evil

CHAPTER VI EVIL THE ORIGIN OF EVIL.

We have seen that sin has entered our world, and that it prevails universally over the race, so that there is not a man that liveth and sinneth not. We have seen also how it was that sin was introduced into our world, and by whose means man was drawn into it and brought under its power. Before proceeding to consider the effect upon the race of the first sin of the first man, there are two inquiries of a more general kind to which it may be proper to advert. These are, What is evil? and, What is the origin of evil in the universe?

These questions have engaged the attention of thoughtful men from early times. In respect of the first, conclusions have been reached which may be regarded as satisfactory; but though many attempts have been made to answer the second question none of them has been successful, and we must be content to leave it as an insoluble problem. Some of the more important of these attempts, however, it may not be out of place or iminstructive to notice.