Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 5
Augustine — Anti-Pelagian Writings
SECTION 401
Chapter 26.--The Pelagians Contend that the Grace, Which is Neither the Law Nor Nature, Avails Only to the Remission of Past Sins, But Not to the Avoidance of Future Ones.
Chapter 26.--The Pelagians Contend that the Grace, Which is Neither the Law Nor Nature, Avails Only to the Remission of Past Sins, But Not to the Avoidance of Future Ones. They also maintain that God's grace, which is given through the faith of Jesus Christ, and which is neither the law nor nature, avails only for the remission…
916 wordsSECTION 402Chapter 29.--God is Able to Convert Opposing Wills, and to Take Away from the Heart Its Hardness.
Chapter 29.--God is Able to Convert Opposing Wills, and to Take Away from the Heart Its Hardness. Now if faith is simply of free will, and is not given by God, why do we pray for those who will not believe, that they may believe? This it would be absolutely useless to do, unless we believe, with perfect propriety, that Almighty…
1,076 wordsSECTION 403Chapter 31 [XV.]--Free Will Has Its Function in the Heart's Conversion; But Grace Too Has Its.
Chapter 31 [XV.]--Free Will Has Its Function in the Heart's Conversion; But Grace Too Has Its. Lest, however, it should be thought that men themselves in this matter do nothing by free will, it is said in the Psalm, "Harden not your hearts;" [3111] and in Ezekiel himself, "Cast away from you all your transgressions, which ye ha…
1,304 wordsSECTION 404Chapter 33 [XVII.]--A Good Will May Be Small and Weak; An Ample Will, Great Love. Operating and Co-operating Grace.
Chapter 33 [XVII.]--A Good Will May Be Small and Weak; An Ample Will, Great Love. Operating and Co-operating Grace. He, therefore, who wishes to do God's commandment, but is unable, already possesses a good will, but as yet a small and weak one; he will, however, become able when he shall have acquired a great and robust will. …
1,195 wordsSECTION 405Chapter 35.--Commendations of Love.
Chapter 35.--Commendations of Love. The Apostle Peter, likewise, says, "And, above all things, have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins." [3151] The Apostle James also says, "If ye fulfil the royal law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well." [3152…
921 wordsSECTION 406Chapter 38.--We Would Not Love God Unless He First Loved Us. The Apostles Chose Christ Because They Were Chosen; They Were Not Chosen Because They Chose Christ.
Chapter 38.--We Would Not Love God Unless He First Loved Us. The Apostles Chose Christ Because They Were Chosen; They Were Not Chosen Because They Chose Christ. Let no one, then, deceive you, my brethren, for we should not love God unless He first loved us. John again gives us the plainest proof of this when he says, "We love H…
903 wordsSECTION 407Chapter 40 [XIX.]--The Ignorance of the Pelagians in Maintaining that the Knowledge of the Law Comes from God, But that Love Comes from Ourselves.
Chapter 40 [XIX.]--The Ignorance of the Pelagians in Maintaining that the Knowledge of the Law Comes from God, But that Love Comes from Ourselves. It is no wonder that light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. [3179] In John's Epistle the Light declares, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestow…
1,504 wordsSECTION 408Chapter 42 [XXI]--God Does Whatsoever He Wills in the Hearts of Even Wicked Men.
Chapter 42 [XXI]--God Does Whatsoever He Wills in the Hearts of Even Wicked Men. Who can help trembling at those judgments of God by which He does in the hearts of even wicked men whatsoever He wills, at the same time rendering to them according to their deeds? Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, rejected the salutary counsel of the …
1,175 wordsSECTION 409Chapter 43.--God Operates on Men's Hearts to Incline Their Wills Whithersoever He Pleases.
Chapter 43.--God Operates on Men's Hearts to Incline Their Wills Whithersoever He Pleases. From these statements of the inspired word, and from similar passages which it would take too long to quote in full, it is, I think, sufficiently clear that God works in the hearts of men to incline their wills whithersoever He wills, whe…
1,029 wordsSECTION 410Chapter 45 [XXIII]--The Reason Why One Person is Assisted by Grace, and Another is Not Helped, Must Be Referred to the Secret Judgments of God.
Chapter 45 [XXIII]--The Reason Why One Person is Assisted by Grace, and Another is Not Helped, Must Be Referred to the Secret Judgments of God. You must refer the matter, then, to the hidden determinations of God, when you see, in one and the same condition, such as all infants unquestionably have,--who derive their hereditary …
894 wordsSECTION 411Book II. Chap. 67,
Book II. Chap. 67, On the Following Treatise, "de correptione et gratia." ------------------------ I Wrote again to the same persons [3235] another treatise, which I entitled On Rebuke and Grace, because I had been told that some one there had said that no man ought to be rebuked for not doing God's commandments, but that pr…
841 wordsSECTION 412Chapter 2.--The Catholic Faith Concerning Law, Grace, and Free Will.
Chapter 2.--The Catholic Faith Concerning Law, Grace, and Free Will. Now the Lord Himself not only shows us what evil we should shun, and what good we should do, which is all that the letter of the law is able to effect; but He moreover helps us that we may shun evil and do good, [3239] which none can do without the Spirit of g…
705 wordsSECTION 413Chapter 4--The Children of God are Led by the Spirit of God.
Chapter 4--The Children of God are Led by the Spirit of God. Let those, therefore, not deceive themselves who ask, "Wherefore is it preached and prescribed to us that we should turn away from evil and do good, if it is not we that do this, but God who worketh in us to will and to do it'?" [3250] But let them rather understand t…
834 wordsSECTION 414Chapter 7 [V.]--The Necessity and Advantage of Rebuke.
Chapter 7 [V.]--The Necessity and Advantage of Rebuke. To this we answer: Whoever you are that do not the commandments of God that are already known to you, and do not wish to be rebuked, you must be rebuked even for that very reason that you do not wish to be rebuked. For you do not wish that your faults should be pointed out …
872 wordsSECTION 415Chapter 9 [VI]--Why They May Justly Be Rebuked Who Do Not Obey God, Although They Have Not Yet Received the Grace of Obedience.
Chapter 9 [VI]--Why They May Justly Be Rebuked Who Do Not Obey God, Although They Have Not Yet Received the Grace of Obedience. "The apostle says," say they, "For who maketh thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received? Now also if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?' […
1,660 wordsSECTION 416Chapter 11 [VII.]--They Who Have Not Received the Gift of Perseverance, and Have Relapsed into Mortal Sin and Have Died Therein, Must Righteously Be Condemned.
Chapter 11 [VII.]--They Who Have Not Received the Gift of Perseverance, and Have Relapsed into Mortal Sin and Have Died Therein, Must Righteously Be Condemned. If, then, these things be so, we still rebuke those, and reasonably rebuke them, who, although they were living well, have not persevered therein; because they have of t…
859 wordsSECTION 417Chapter 14.--None of the Elect and Predestinated Can Perish.
Chapter 14.--None of the Elect and Predestinated Can Perish. Of such says the apostle, "We know that to those that love God He worketh together all things for good, to them who are called according to His purpose; because those whom He before foreknew, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He mi…
757 wordsSECTION 418Chapter 16.--Whosoever Do Not Persevere are Not Distinguished from the Mass of Perdition by Predestination.
Chapter 16.--Whosoever Do Not Persevere are Not Distinguished from the Mass of Perdition by Predestination. Such as these were they who were signified to Timothy, where, when it had been said that Hymenæus and Philetus had subverted the faith of some, it is presently added, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, hav…
829 wordsSECTION 419Chapter 18.--Some Instances of God's Amazing Judgments.
Chapter 18.--Some Instances of God's Amazing Judgments. It is, indeed, to be wondered at, and greatly to be wondered at, that to some of His own children--whom He has regenerated in Christ--to whom He has given faith, hope, and love, God does not give perseverance also, when to children of another He forgives such wickedness, a…
823 wordsSECTION 420Chapter 20 [IX.]--Some are Children of God According to Grace Temporally Received, Some According to God's Eternal Foreknowledge.
Chapter 20 [IX.]--Some are Children of God According to Grace Temporally Received, Some According to God's Eternal Foreknowledge. Nor let it disturb us that to some of His children God does not give this perseverance. Be this far from being so, however, if these were of those who are predestinated and called according to His pu…
842 wordsSECTION 421Chapter 22.--True Children of God are True Disciples of Christ.
Chapter 22.--True Children of God are True Disciples of Christ. Finally, the Saviour Himself says, "If ye continue in my word, ye are indeed my disciples." [3319] Is Judas, then, to be reckoned among them, since he did not continue in His word? Are they to be reckoned among them of whom the gospel speaks in such wise, where, wh…
932 wordsSECTION 422Chapter 24.--Even the Sins of the Elect are Turned by God to Their Advantage.
Chapter 24.--Even the Sins of the Elect are Turned by God to Their Advantage. To such as love Him, God co-worketh with all things for good; so absolutely all things, that even if any of them go astray, and break out of the way, even this itself He makes to avail them for good, so that they return more lowly and more instructed.…
736 wordsSECTION 423Chapter 25.--Therefore Rebuke is to Be Used.
Chapter 25.--Therefore Rebuke is to Be Used. Let no one therefore say that a man must not be rebuked when he deviates from the right way, but that his return and perseverance must only be asked for from the Lord for him. Let no considerate and believing man say this. For if such an one is called according to the purpose, beyond…
1,111 wordsSECTION 424Chapter 28.--The First Man Himself Also Might Have Stood by His Free Will.
Chapter 28.--The First Man Himself Also Might Have Stood by His Free Will. Thus also He made man with free will; and although ignorant of his future fall, yet therefore happy, because he thought it was in his own power both not to die and not to become miserable. And if he had willed by his own free will to continue in this sta…
1,171 wordsSECTION 425Chapter 31.--The First Man Had Received the Grace Necessary for His Perseverance, But Its Exercise Was Left in His Free Choice.
Chapter 31.--The First Man Had Received the Grace Necessary for His Perseverance, But Its Exercise Was Left in His Free Choice. The first man had not that grace by which he should never will to be evil; but assuredly he had that in which if he willed to abide he would never be evil, and without which, moreover, he could not by …
945 wordsSECTION 426Chapter 33 [XII.]--What is the Difference Between the Ability Not to Sin, to Die, and Forsake Good, and the Inability to Sin, to Die, and to Forsake Good?
Chapter 33 [XII.]--What is the Difference Between the Ability Not to Sin, to Die, and Forsake Good, and the Inability to Sin, to Die, and to Forsake Good? On which account we must consider with diligence and attention in what respect those pairs differ from one another,--to be able not to sin, and not to be able to sin; to be a…
791 wordsSECTION 427Chapter 35.--There is a Greater Freedom Now in the Saints Than There Was Before in Adam.
Chapter 35.--There is a Greater Freedom Now in the Saints Than There Was Before in Adam. Certainly a greater liberty is necessary in the face of so many and so great temptations, which had no existence in Paradise,--a liberty fortified and confirmed by the gift of perseverance, so that this world, with all its loves, its fears,…
899 wordsSECTION 428Chapter 37.--To a Sound Will is Committed the Power of Persevering or of Not Persevering.
Chapter 37.--To a Sound Will is Committed the Power of Persevering or of Not Persevering. As, therefore, the first man did not receive this gift of God,--that is, perseverance in good, but it was left in his choice to persevere or not to persevere, his will had such strength,--inasmuch as it had been created without any sin, an…
938 wordsSECTION 429Chapter 39 [XIII.]--The Number of the Predestinated is Certain and Defined.
Chapter 39 [XIII.]--The Number of the Predestinated is Certain and Defined. I speak thus of those who are predestinated to the kingdom of God, whose number is so certain that one can neither be added to them nor taken from them; not of those who, when He had announced and spoken, were multiplied beyond number. For they may be s…
1,158 wordsSECTION 430Chapter 42.--The Reprobate are to Be Punished for Merits of a Different Kind.
Chapter 42.--The Reprobate are to Be Punished for Merits of a Different Kind. But those who do not belong to this number of the predestinated, whom--whether that they have not yet any free choice of their will, or with a choice of will truly free, because freed by grace itself--the grace of God brings to His kingdom,--those, th…
1,304 wordsSECTION 431Chapter 46 [XV.]--Rebuke Must Be Varied According to the Variety of Faults. There is No Punishment in the Church Greater Than Excommunication.
Chapter 46 [XV.]--Rebuke Must Be Varied According to the Variety of Faults. There is No Punishment in the Church Greater Than Excommunication. Therefore, let brethren who are subject be rebuked by those who are set over them, with rebukes that spring from love, varied according to the diversity of faults, whether smaller or gre…
842 wordsSECTION 432Chapter 48.--The Purpose of Rebuke.
Chapter 48.--The Purpose of Rebuke. Although, therefore, even while the faith of some is subverted, the foundation of God standeth sure, since the Lord knoweth them that are His, still, we ought not on that account to be indolent and negligent in rebuking those who should be rebuked. For not for nothing was it said, "Evil commu…
1,198 wordsSECTION 433Chapter 1 [I.]--Introduction.
Chapter 1 [I.]--Introduction. We know that in the Epistle to the Philippians the apostle said, "To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe;" [3414] yet the same apostle writing to the Galatians when he saw that he had done enough among them of what he regarded as being needful for them, …
701 wordsSECTION 434Chapter 3 [II.]--Even the Beginning of Faith is of God's Gift.
Chapter 3 [II.]--Even the Beginning of Faith is of God's Gift. Therefore I ought first to show that the faith by which we are Christians is the gift of God, if I can do that more thoroughly than I have already done in so many and so large volumes. But I see that I must now reply to those who say that the divine testimonies whic…
1,064 wordsSECTION 435Chapter 6.--Presumption and Arrogance to Be Avoided.
Chapter 6.--Presumption and Arrogance to Be Avoided. Care must be taken, brethren, beloved of God, that a man do not lift himself up in opposition to God, when he says that he does what God has promised. Was not the faith of the nations promised to Abraham, "and he, giving glory to God, most fully believed that what He promised…
1,630 wordsSECTION 436Chapter 8 [IV.]--What Augustin Wrote to Simplicianus, the Successor of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.
Chapter 8 [IV.]--What Augustin Wrote to Simplicianus, the Successor of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. You see plainly what was at that time my opinion concerning faith and works, although I was labouring in commending God's grace; and in this opinion I see that those brethren of ours now are, because they have not been as careful to…
731 wordsSECTION 437Chapter 9 [V.]--The Purpose of the Apostle in These Words.
Chapter 9 [V.]--The Purpose of the Apostle in These Words. The notion, however, which they entertain, "that these words, What hast thou that thou hast not received?' cannot be said of this faith, because it has remained in the same nature, although corrupted, which at first was endowed with health and perfection," [3449] is per…
1,350 wordsSECTION 438Chapter 11 [VI.]--That Some Men are Elected is of God's Mercy.
Chapter 11 [VI.]--That Some Men are Elected is of God's Mercy. "Many hear the word of truth; but some believe, while others contradict. Therefore, the former will to believe; the latter do not will." Who does not know this? Who can deny this? But since in some the will is prepared by the Lord, in others it is not prepared, we m…
846 wordsSECTION 439Chapter 13 [VIII.]--The Effect of Divine Grace.
Chapter 13 [VIII.]--The Effect of Divine Grace. Accordingly, our only Master and Lord Himself, when He had said what I have above mentioned,--"This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent,"--says a little afterwards in that same discourse of His, "I said unto you that ye also have seen me and have not belie…
1,171 wordsSECTION 440Chapter 15.--It is Believers that are Taught of God.
Chapter 15.--It is Believers that are Taught of God. "Why," say they, "does He not teach all men?" If we should say that they whom He does not teach are unwilling to learn, we shall be met with the answer: And what becomes of what is said to Him, "O God, Thou wilt turn us again, and quicken us"? [3475] Or if God does not make m…
832 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.