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101. The Knowledge of Offspring in the State of Innocence

1. It is in accord with human nature to acquire knowledge,not to be born with knowledge already in the mind. The fact thatman, at birth, is unequipped with knowledge, is not a defect; it isa normal condition of nature. In the state of innocence, childrenwould doubtless have had a perfect aptitude for learning withoutdifficulty, and would have acquired knowledge readily as theyadvanced in age and experience. But they would not have possessedknowledge from birth.

2. And therefore children in the state of innocence wouldnot havehad the use of reason from earliest infancy. Theywould have come to the use of reason more readily and perfectlythan do children in the fallen state of mankind.

"Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"Before a man chooses his confessor, he ought to think well about it, and pray about it also; but when he has once chosen, he ought not to change, except for most urgent reasons, but put the utmost confidence in his director."
St Philip Neri

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"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God."
Thomas á Kempis

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