{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050312.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050312.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050312.htm","text":"Chapter 65 [LV.]\u2014\u201cThis Body of Death,\u201d So Called from Its Defect, Not from Its Substance.\nNow, I ask, when did our nature lose that liberty, which he craves to be given to him when he says: \u201cWho shall liberate me?\u201d 1283 For even he finds no fault with the substance of the flesh when he expresses his desire to be liberated from the body of this death, since the nature of the body, as well as of the soul, must be attributed to the good God as the author thereof. But what he speaks of undoubtedly concerns the offences of the body. Now from the body the death of the body separates us; whereas the offences contracted from the body remain, and their just punishment awaits them, as the rich man found in hell. 1284 From these it was that he was unable to liberate himself, who said: \u201cWho shall liberate me from the body of this death?\u201d 1285 But whensoever it was that he lost this liberty, at least there remains that \u201cinseparable capacity\u201d of nature,\u2014he has the ability from natural resources,\u2014he has the volition from free will. Why does he seek the sacrament of baptism? Is it because of past sins, in order that they may be forgiven, since they cannot be undone? Well, suppose you acquit and release a man on these terms, he must still utter the old cry; for he not only wants to be mercifully let off from punishment for past offences, but to be strengthened and fortified against sinning for the time to come. For he \u201cdelights in the law of God, after the inward man; but then he sees another law in his members, warring against the law of his mind.\u201d 1286 Observe, he sees that there is, not recollects that there was. It is a present pressure, not a past memory. And he sees the other law not only \u201cwarring,\u201d but even \u201cbringing him into captivity to the law of sin, which is\u201d(not which was) \u201cin his members.\u201d 1287 Hence comes that cry of his: \u201cO wretched man that I am! who shall liberate me from the body of this death?\u201d 1288 Let him pray, let him entreat for the help of the mighty Physician. Why gainsay that prayer? Why cry down that entreaty? Why shall the unhappy suitor be hindered from begging for the mercy of Christ,\u2014and that too by Christians? For, it was even they who were accompanying Christ that tried to prevent the blind man, by clamouring him down, from begging for light; but even amidst the din and throng of the gainsayers He hears the suppliant; 1289 whence the response: \u201cThe grace of God, through Jesus Christ out Lord.\u201d 1290","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on Nat...","type":"page"}