{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050462.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050462.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050462.htm","text":"Chapter 7 [VI.]\u2014Pelagius Posits God\u2019s Aid Only for Our \u201cCapacity.\u201d\nLet not Pelagius, however, in this way deceive incautious and simple persons, or even himself; for after saying, \u201cMan is therefore to be praised for his willing and doing a good work,\u201d he added, as if by way of correcting himself, these p. 219 words: \u201cOr rather, this praise belongs to man and to God.\u201d It was not, however, that he wished to be understood as showing any deference to the sound doctrine, that it is \u201cGod which worketh in us both to will and to do,\u201d that he thus expressed himself; but it is clear enough, on his own showing, why he added the latter clause, for he immediately subjoins: \u201cWho has bestowed on him the \u2018capacity\u2019 for this very will and work.\u201d From his preceding words it is manifest that he places this capacity in our nature. Lest he should seem, however, to have said nothing about grace, he added these words: \u201cAnd who evermore, by the help of His grace, assists this very capacity,\u201d\u2014\u201cthis very capacity,\u201d observe; not \u201cvery will,\u201d or \u201cvery action;\u201d for if he had said so much as this, he would clearly not be at variance with the teaching of the apostle. But there are his words: \u201cthis very capacity;\u201d meaning that very one of the three faculties which he had placed in our nature. This God \u201cevermore assists by the help of His grace.\u201d The result, indeed, is, that \u201cthe praise does not belong to man and to God,\u201d because man so wills that yet God also inspires his volition with the ardour of love, or that man so works that God nevertheless also cooperates with him,\u2014and without His help, what is man? But he has associated God in this praise in this wise, that were it not for the nature which God gave us in our creation wherewith we might be able to exercise volition and action, we should neither will nor act.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on the...","type":"page"}