{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050294.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050294.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050294.htm","text":"Chapter 47 [XL.]\u2014For What Pelagius Thought that Christ is Necessary to Us.\nPerhaps, however, he thinks the name of Christ to be necessary on this account, that by His gospel we may learn how we ought to live; but not that we may be also assisted by His grace, in order withal to lead good lives. Well, even this consideration should lead him at least to confess that there is a miserable darkness in the human mind, which knows how it ought to tame a lion, but knows not how to live. To know this, too, is it enough for us to have free will and natural law? This is that wisdom of word, whereby \u201cthe cross of Christ is rendered of none effect.\u201d 1244 He, however, who said, \u201cI will destroy the wisdom of the wise,\u201d 1245 since that cross cannot be made of none effect, in very deed overthrows that wisdom by the foolishness of preaching whereby believers are healed. For if natural capacity, by help of free will, is in itself sufficient both for discovering how one ought to live, and also for leading a holy life, then \u201cChrist died in vain,\u201d 1246 and therefore also \u201cthe offence of the cross is ceased.\u201d 1247 Why also may I not myself exclaim?\u2014nay, I will exclaim, and chide them with a Christian\u2019s sorrow,\u2014\u201cChrist is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by nature; ye are fallen from grace;\u201d 1248 for, \u201cbeing ignorant of God\u2019s righteousness, and wishing to establish your own righteousness, you have not submitted yourselves to the righteousness of God.\u201d 1249 For even as \u201cChrist is the end of the law,\u201d so likewise is He the Saviour of man\u2019s corrupted nature, \u201cfor righteousness to every one that believeth.\u201d 1250","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on Nat...","type":"page"}