{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050377.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050377.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050377.htm","text":"(41.) Specimens of Pelagian Exegesis.\nBut I beg of you to see what kind of objection, after all, he makes, that to him who \u201cwilleth and runneth\u201d there is no necessity for God\u2019s mercy, which actually anticipates him in order that he may run,\u2014because, forsooth, the apostle says concerning a certain person, \u201cLet him do what he will,\u201d 1572 \u2014in the matter, as I suppose, which he goes on to treat, when he says, \u201cHe sinneth not, let him marry!\u201d 1573 As if indeed it should be regarded as a great matter to be willing to marry, when the subject is a laboured discussion concerning the assistance of God\u2019s grace, or that it is of any great advantage p. 175 to will it, unless God\u2019s providence, which governs all things, joins together the man and the woman. Or, in the case of the apostle\u2019s writing to Philemon, that \u201chis kindness should not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary,\u201d\u2014as if any good act could indeed be voluntary otherwise than by God\u2019s \u201cworking in us both to will and to do of His own good pleasure.\u201d 1574 Or, when the Scripture says in Deuteronomy, \u201cLife and death hath He set before man and good and evil,\u201d and admonishes him \u201cto choose life;\u201d as if, forsooth, this very admonition did not come from God\u2019s mercy, or as if there were any advantage in choosing life, unless God inspired love to make such a choice, and gave the possession of it when chosen, concerning which it is said: \u201cFor anger is in His indignation, and in His pleasure is life.\u201d 1575\nOr again, because it is said, \u201cThe commandments, if thou wilt, shall save thee,\u201d 1576 \u2014as if a man ought not to thank God, because he has a will to keep the commandments, since, if he wholly lacked the light of truth, it would not be possible for him to possess such a will. \u201cFire and water being set before him, a man stretches forth his hand towards which he pleases;\u201d 1577 and yet higher is He who calls man to his higher vocation than any thought on man\u2019s own part, inasmuch as the beginning of correction of the heart lies in faith, even as it is written, \u201cThou shalt come, and pass on from the beginning of faith.\u201d 1578 Every one makes his choice of good, \u201caccording as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith;\u201d 1579 and as the Prince of faith says, \u201cNo man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.\u201d 1580 And that He spake this in reference to the faith which believes in Him, He subsequently explains with sufficient clearness, when He says: \u201cThe words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; yet there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.\u201d 1581","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise Concer...","type":"page"}