{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050228.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050228.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050228.htm","text":"Chapter 52 [XXX.]\u2014Grace Establishes Free Will.\nDo we then by grace make void free will? God forbid! Nay, rather we establish free will. For even as the law by faith, so free will by grace, is not made void, but established. 994 For neither is the law fulfilled except by free will; but by the law is the knowledge of sin, by faith the acquisition of grace against sin, by grace the healing of the soul from the disease of sin, by the health of the soul freedom of will, by free will the love of righteousness, by love of righteousness the accomplishment of the law. Accordingly, as the law is not made void, but is established through faith, since faith procures grace whereby the law is fulfilled; so free will is not made void through grace, but is established, since grace cures the will whereby righteousness is freely loved. Now all the stages which I have here connected together in their successive links, have severally their proper voices in the sacred Scriptures. The law says: \u201cThou shall not covet.\u201d 995 Faith says: \u201cHeal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.\u201d 996 Grace says: \u201cBehold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.\u201d 997 Health says: \u201cO Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me.\u201d 998 Free will says: \u201cI will freely sacrifice unto Thee.\u201d 999 Love of righteousness says: \u201cTransgressors told me pleasant tales, but not according to Thy law, O Lord.\u201d 1000 How is it then that miserable men dare to be proud, either of their free will, before they are freed, or of their own strength, if they have been freed? They do not observe that in the very mention of free will they pronounce the name of liberty. But \u201cwhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.\u201d 1001 If, therefore, they are the slaves of sin, why do they boast of free will? For by what a man is overcome, to the same is he delivered as a slave. 1002 But if they have been freed, why do they vaunt themselves as if it were by their own doing, and boast, as if they had not received? Or are they free in such sort that they do not choose to have Him for their Lord who says to them: \u201cWithout me ye can do nothing;\u201d 1003 and \u201cIf the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed?\u201d 1004","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on the...","type":"page"}