{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/103/1030282.htm","path":"chr/ecf/103/1030282.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/103/1030282.htm","text":"Chapter 32.\u2014The Freedom of the Will is Also the Gift of God, for God Worketh in Us Both to Will and to Do.\nAnd further, should any one be inclined to boast, not indeed of his works, but of the freedom of his will, as if the first merit belonged to him, this very liberty of good action being given to him as a reward he had earned, let him listen to this same preacher of grace, when he says: \u201cFor it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His own good pleasure;\u201d 1133 and in another place: \u201cSo, then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.\u201d 1134 Now as, undoubtedly, if a man is of the age to use his reason, he cannot believe, hope, love, unless he will to do so, nor obtain the prize of the high calling of God unless he voluntarily run for it; in what sense is it \u201cnot of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,\u201d except that, as it is written, \u201cthe preparation of the heart is from the Lord?\u201d 1135 Otherwise, if it is said, \u201cIt is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,\u201d because it is of both, that is, both of the will of man and of the mercy of God, so that we are to understand the saying, \u201cIt is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,\u201d as if it meant the will of man alone is not sufficient, if the mercy of God go not with it,\u2014then it will follow that the mercy of God alone is not sufficient, if the will of man go not with it; and therefore, if we may rightly say, \u201cit is not of man that willeth, but of God that showeth mercy,\u201d because the will of man by itself is not enough, why may we not also rightly put it in the converse way: \u201cIt is not of God that showeth mercy, but of man that willeth,\u201d because the mercy of God by itself does not suffice? Surely, if no Christian will dare to say this, \u201cIt is not of God that showeth mercy, but of man that willeth,\u201d lest he should openly contradict the apostle, it follows that the true interpretation of the saying, \u201cIt is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,\u201d is that the whole work belongs to God, who both makes the will of man righteous, and thus prepares it for assistance, and assists it when it is prepared. For the man\u2019s righteousness of will precedes many of God\u2019s gifts, but not all; and it must itself be included among those which it does not precede. We read in Holy Scripture, both that God\u2019s mercy \u201cshall meet me,\u201d 1136 and that His mercy \u201cshall follow me.\u201d 1137 It goes before the unwilling to make him willing; it follows the willing to make his will effectual. Why are we taught to pray for our enemies, 1138 who are plainly unwilling to lead a holy life, unless that God may work willingness in them? And why are we ourselves taught to ask that we may receive, 1139 unless that He who has created in us the wish, may Himself satisfy the wish? We pray, then, for our enemies, that the mercy of God may prevent them, as it has prevented us: we pray for ourselves that His mercy may follow us.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. III: Doctrinal Treat...","type":"page"}