{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050392.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050392.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050392.htm","text":"Chapter 7.\u2014The Same Continued.\nAs for the passage from the psalm, \u201cHe loved cursing, and it shall come upon him; and he willed not blessing, so it shall be far removed from him,\u201d 1617 which he quoted in the same book of Chapters, as if to prove that \u201call men are ruled by their own will,\u201d who can be ignorant that this is a fault not of nature as God created it, but of human will which departed from God? The fact indeed is, that even if he had not loved cursing, and had willed blessing, he would in this very case, too, deny that his will had received any assistance from God; in his ingratitude and impiety, moreover, he would submit himself to be ruled by himself, until he found out by his penalties that, sunk as he was into ruin, without God to govern him he was utterly unable to direct his own self. In like manner, from the passage which he quoted in the same book under the same head, \u201cHe hath set fire and water before thee; stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt; before man are good and evil, life and death, and whichever he liketh shall be given to him,\u201d 1618 it is manifest that, if he applies his hand to fire, and if evil and death please him, his human will effects all this; but if, on the contrary, he loves goodness and life, not alone does his will accomplish the happy choice, but it is assisted by divine grace. The eye indeed is sufficient for itself, for not seeing, that is, for darkness; but for seeing, it is in its own light not sufficient for itself unless the assistance of a clear external light is rendered to it. God forbid, however, that they who are \u201cthe called according to His purpose, whom He also foreknew, and predestinated to be conformed to the likeness of His Son,\u201d 1619 should be given up to their own desire to perish. This is suffered only by \u201cthe vessels of wrath,\u201d 1620 who are perfected for perdition; in whose very destruction, indeed, God \u201cmakes known the riches of His glory on the vessels of His mercy.\u201d 1621 Now it is on this account that, after saying, \u201cHe is my God, His mercy shall go before me,\u201d 1622 he immediately adds, \u201cMy God will show me vengeance upon my enemies.\u201d 1623 That therefore happens to them which is mentioned in Scripture, \u201cGod gave them up to the lusts of their own heart.\u201d 1624 This, however, does not happen to the predestinated, who are ruled by the Spirit of God, for not in vain is their cry: \u201cDeliver me not, O Lord, to the sinner, according to my desire.\u201d 1625 With regard, indeed, to the evil lusts which assail them, their prayer has ever assumed some such shape as this: \u201cTake away from me the concupiscence of the belly; and let not the desire of lust take hold of me.\u201d 1626 Upon those whom He governs as His subjects does God bestow this gift; but not upon those who think themselves capable of governing themselves, and who, in the stiff-necked confidence of their own will, disdain to have Him as their ruler.\nSir. 15:16, 17.\n186:1619 186:1620 186:1621 186:1622 186:1623 186:1624 186:1625 186:1626","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Work on the Pro...","type":"page"}