I. In the present order of the Universe, sin is as much a mystery of faith as the supernatural order of grace and sanctity of which it is the counterpart. Its full malice and bearing can only be appreciated in the light of the mystery of grace. The mysterious character of sin is found especially in original sin; with our experimental knowledge alone, and in the hypothesis of a merely natural order, the existence of original sin could not be proved, and its nature would be absolutely inconceivable. But in the light of revelation and in connection with the mystery of grace, original sin presents no insuperable difficulty to the mind, and in its turn, it throws almost all the light obtainable on the existence of evil in the world.

II. Holy Scripture speaks of the mystery of iniquity but once, “The mystery of iniquity already worketh” (τὸ μυστήριον τῆς ἀνομίας, 2 Thess. 2:7). The Apostle here seems to oppose the mystery of iniquity to the mystery of God: the work of Anti-christ to the work of Christ. Christ’s work is the mysterious operation of grace for the salvation of mankind; the work of His adversary is the operation of sin for the destruction of souls.