{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050835.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050835.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050835.htm","text":"Chapter 36 [XVIII.]\u2014Julian\u2019s Fourth Objection, that Man is God\u2019s Work, and is Not Constrained to Evil or Good by His Power.\n\u201cWe maintain,\u201d says he, \u201cthat men are the work of God, and that no one is forced unwillingly by His power either into evil or good, but that man does either good or ill of his own will; but that in a good work he is always assisted by God\u2019s grace, while in evil he is incited by the suggestions of the devil.\u201d To this I answer, that men, in so far as they are men, are the work of God; but in so far as they are sinners, they are under the devil, unless they are plucked from thence by Him who became the Mediator between God and man, for no other reason than because He could not be a sinner from men. And that no one is forced by God\u2019s power unwillingly either into evil or good, but that when God forsakes a man, he deservedly goes to evil, and that when God assists, without deserving he is converted to good. For a man is not good if he is unwilling, but by the grace of God he is even assisted to the point of being willing; because it is not vainly written, \u201cFor it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure,\u201d 2601 and, \u201cThe will is prepared by God.\u201d 2602","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise Agains...","type":"page"}