The Creed acknowledges God as the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth; but there is another relation which He sustains to His creatures
besides those of Creator and Father. In Scripture He is represented as
the King, Ruler, Governor of the universe, who imposes laws upon all His
creatures, and requires of them scrupulous obedience. With the exception
of man, the visible creatures have these laws, from which they cannot
swerve, within their constitutions. The planet never deviates from its
appointed orbit; the insect, the bird, the beast all live in strict
accordance with their instincts; but, unlike them, man possesses freedom
of will and power of choice. This freedom, if rightly exercised, is a
noble possession, but, perverted, it is an instrument of destruction.
The lower animals cannot sin because the law of their lives is within
them, constraining them to act in accordance with its dictates. Upon
man, free to choose, God imposed law. With freedom of will he received
the gift of conscience, which, enabling him to distinguish between right
and wrong, invested him with responsibility, and made disobedience sin.
That he can sin is his patent of nobility, that he does sin is his ruin
and disgrace.

The effect of sin is separation from God, who can have no fellowship
with evil, for sin is the abominable thing which He hates, and on which
He cannot even look. A breach, altogether irreparable on man's part, was
made between man and his Creator when the first transgression of the law
of God took place. The impulse of every sinner, which only Divine power
can overcome, is to flee from God. Hence arises the necessity for
reconciliation, and for the intervention of God to effect it. That the
unity thus broken may be restored, expiation must be made by one
possessing the nature of the being that had sinned, and yet, by His
possession of the Divine nature, investing that expiation with