{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050319.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050319.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050319.htm","text":"Chapter 72 [LXI.]\u2014Hilary. The Pure in Heart Blessed. The Doing and Perfecting of Righteousness.\nHe quotes the following words from the blessed Hilary: \u201cIt is only when we shall be perfect in spirit and changed in our immortal state, which blessedness has been appointed only for the pure in heart, 1308 that we shall see that which is immortal in God.\u201d 1309 Now I am really not aware what is here said contrary to our own statement, or in what respect this passage is of any use to our opponent, unless it be that it testifies to the possibility of a man\u2019s being \u201cpure in heart.\u201d But who denies such possibility? Only it must be by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and not merely by our freedom of will. He goes on to quote also this passage: \u201cThis Job had so effectually read these Scriptures, that he kept himself from every wicked work, because he worshipped God purely with a mind unmixed with offences: now such worship of God is the proper work of righteousness.\u201d 1310 It is what Job had done which the writer here spoke of, not what he had brought to perfection in this world,\u2014much less what he had done or perfected without the grace of that Saviour whom he had actually foretold. 1311 For that man, indeed, abstains from every wicked work, who does not allow the sin which he has within him to have dominion over him; and who, whenever an unworthy thought stole over him, suffered it not to come to a head in actual deed. It is, howp. 147 ever, one thing not to have sin, and another to refuse obedience to its desires. It is one thing to fulfil the command, \u201cThou shalt not covet;\u201d 1312 and another thing, by an endeavour at any rate after abstinence, to do that which is also written, \u201cThou shalt not go after thy lusts.\u201d 1313 And yet one is quite aware that he can do nothing of all this without the Saviour\u2019s grace. It is to work righteousness, therefore, to fight in an internal struggle with the internal evil of concupiscence in the true worship of God; whilst to perfect it means to have no adversary at all. Now he who has to fight is still in danger, and is sometimes shaken, even if he is not overthrown; whereas he who has no enemy at all rejoices in perfect peace. He, moreover, is in the highest truth said to be without sin in whom no sin has an indwelling,\u2014not he who, abstaining from evil deeds, uses such language as \u201cNow it is no longer I that do it, but the sin that dwelleth in me.\u201d 1314\nSee Matt. v. 8.\n146:1309 146:1310 146:1311 147:1312 147:1313 147:1314","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on Nat...","type":"page"}