Anti-Pelagian Writings

Chapter 1

I. THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF PELAGIANISM.

I T was inevitable that the energy of the Church in intellectually realizing and defining its doctrines in relation to one another, should first be directed towards the objective side of Christian truth. The chief contro

Chapter 2

II. THE EXTERNAL HISTORY OF THE PELAGIAN CONTROVERSY.

Pelagius seems to have been already somewhat softened by increasing age when he came to Rome about the opening of the fifth century. He was also constitutionally averse to controversy; and although in his zeal for Christ

Chapter 3

III. AUGUSTIN’S PART IN THE CONTROVERSY.

Both by nature and by grace, Augustin was formed to be the champion of truth in this controversy. Of a naturally philosophical temperament, he saw into the springs of life with a vividness of mental perception to which m

Chapter 4

IV. THE THEOLOGY OF GRACE.

The theology which Augustin opposed, in his anti-Pelagian writings, to the errors of Pelagianism, is, shortly, the theology of grace. Its roots were planted deeply in his own experience, and in the teachings of Scripture

Chapter 5

BOOK II. CHAP. 23,

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE, “DE PECCATORUM MERITIS ET REMISSIONE.” A N ECESSITY arose which compelled me to write against the new heresy of Pelagius. Our previous opposition to it was confined to sermons and conversati

Chapter 6

BOOK I

IN WHICH HE REFUTES THOSE WHO MAINTAIN, THAT ADAM MUST HAVE DIED EVEN IF HE HAD NEVER SINNED; AND THAT NOTHING OF HIS SIN HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED TO HIS POSTERITY BY NATURAL DESCENT. HE ALSO SHOWS, THAT DEATH HAS NOT ACCRUE

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

INTRODUCTORY, IN THE SHAPE OF AN INSCRIPTION TO HIS FRIEND MARCELLINUS -- 109 of 1177 -- H OWEVER absorbing and intense the anxieties and annoyances in the whirl and warmth of which we are engaged with sinful men who f

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

IF ADAM HAD NOT SINNED, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE DIED They who say that Adam was so formed that he would even without any demerit of sin have died, not as the penalty of sin, but from the necessity of his being, endeavor inde

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

IT IS ONE THING TO BE MORTAL, ANOTHER THING TO BE SUBJECT TO DEATH Nor was there any reason to fear that if he had happened to live on here longer in his natural body, he would have been oppressed with old age, and have

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 4 [IV.]

EVEN BODILY DEATH IS FROM SIN But in addition to the passage where God in punishment said,” Dust thou art, unto dust shalt thou return,” — a passage which I cannot understand how any one can apply except to the death of

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 5 [V.]

THE WORDS, MORTALE (CAPABLE OF DYING), MORTUUM (DEAD), AND MORITURUS (DESTINED TO DIE) -- 112 of 1177 -- Now previous to the change into the incorruptible state which is promised in the resurrection of the saints, the

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 6 [VI.]

HOW IT IS THAT THE BODY DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN One wonders that anything is required clearer than the proof we have given. But we must perhaps be content to hear this clear illustration gainsaid by the contention, that we m

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 7 [VII.]

-- 114 of 1177 -- THE LIFE OF THE BODY THE OBJECT OF HOPE, THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT BEING A PRELUDE TO IT Although I am much afraid that so clear a matter may rather be obscured by exposition, I must yet request your atte

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 8 [VIII.]

BODILY DEATH FROM ADAM’S SIN -- 115 of 1177 -- When to the like purport he says: “By man came death, by man also the resurrection of the dead,” in what other sense can the passage be understood than of the death of the

Chapter 15

CHAPTER 9 [IX.]

SIN PASSES ON TO ALL MEN BY NATURAL DESCENT, AND NOT MERELY BY IMITATION You tell me in your letter, that they endeavor to twist into some new sense the passage of the apostle, in which he says: “By one man sin entered i

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 10

THE ANALOGY OF GRACE No doubt all they imitate Adam who by disobedience transgress the commandment of God; but he is one thing as an example to those who sin because they choose; and another thing as the progenitor of al

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 11 [X.]

DISTINCTION BETWEEN ACTUAL AND ORIGINAL SIN. Again, in the clause which follows, “In which all have sinned,” how cautiously, rightly, and unambiguously is the statement expressed! For if yon understand that sin to be mea

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 12

THE LAW COULD NOT TAKE AWAY SIN Observe also what follows. Having said, “In which all have stoned,” he at once added, “For until the law, sin was in the world.” This means that sin could not be taken away even by the law

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 13 [XI.]

MEANING OF THE APOSTLE’S PHRASE “THE REIGN OF DEATH.” “Nevertheless,” says he, “death reigned from Adam even unto Moses, — that is to say, from the first man even to the very law which was promulged by the divine authori

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 14

SUPERABUNDANCE OF GRACE “But,” says he, “not as the offense so also is the free gift. For if, through the offense of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by One Man, Jesus Christ

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 15 [XII.]

THE ONE SIN COMMON TO ALL MEN But observe more attentively what he says, that “through the offense of one, many are dead.” For why should it be on account of the sin of one, and not rather on account of their own sins, i

Chapter 22

CHAPTER 16 [XIII.]

HOW DEATH IS BY ONE AND LIFE BY ONE And from this we gather that we have derived from Adam, in whom we all have sinned, not all our actual sins, but only original sin; whereas from Christ, in whom we are all justified, w

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 17

WHOM SINNERS IMITATE “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of righteousness shall reign in life by one, even Jesus Christ.” Why did death reign on account

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 18

ONLY CHRIST JUSTIFIES “Therefore as by the offense of one upon all men to condemnation, even so by the justification of One upon all men unto justification of life.” This “offense of one,” if we are bent on “imitation,”

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 19 [XV.]

SIN IS FROM NATURAL DESCENT, AS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FROM REGENERATION; HOW “ALL” ARE SINNERS THROUGH ADAM, AND “ALL” ARE JUST THROUGH CHRIST Now if it is imitation only that makes men sinners through Adam, why does not imit

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 20

ORIGINAL SIN ALONE IS CONTRACTED BY NATURAL BIRTH “Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound.” This addition to original sin men now made of their own willfulness, not through Adam; but -- 125 of 1177 --

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 21 [XVI.]

UNBAPTIZED INFANTS DAMNED, BUT MOST LIGHTLY; THE PENALTY OF ADAM’S SIN, THE GRACE OF HIS BODY LOST It may therefore be correctly affirmed, that such infants as quit the body without being baptized will be involved in the

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 22 [XVII.]

TO INFANTS PERSONAL SIN IS NOT TO BE ATTRIBUTED They, therefore, who say that the reason why infants are baptized, is, that they may have the remission of the sin which they have themselves committed in their life, not w

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 23 [XVIII.]

HE REFUTES THOSE WHO ALLEGE THAT INFANTS ARE BAPTIZED NOT FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, BUT FOR THE OBTAINING OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. But those persons raise a question, and appear to adduce an argument deserving of consi

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 24 [XIX]

INFANTS SAVED AS SINNERS And let no one suppose that infants ought to be brought to baptism, on the ground that, as they are not sinners, so they are not righteous; how then do some remind us that the Lord commends this

Chapter 31

CHAPTER 25

INFANTS ARE DESCRIBED AS BELIEVERS AND AS PENITENTS. SINS ALONE SEPARATE BETWEEN GOD AND MEN Some one will say: How then are mere infants called to repentance? How can such as they repent of anything? The answer to this

Chapter 32

CHAPTER 26 [XX.]

NO ONE, EXCEPT HE BE BAPTIZED, RIGHTLY COMES TO THE TABLE OF THE LORD Now they take alarm from the statement of the Lord, when He says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;” because in His own e

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 27

INFANTS MUST FEED ON CHRIST Will, however, any man be so bold as to say that this statement has no relation to infants, and that they can have life in them without partaking of His body and blood — on the ground that He

Chapter 34

CHAPTER 28

BAPTIZED INFANTS, OF THE FAITHFUL; UNBAPTIZED, OF THE LOST Hence also that other statement: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; while h

Chapter 35

CHAPTER 29 [XXI.]

IT IS AN INSCRUTABLE MYSTERY WHY SOME ARE SAVED, AND OTHERS NOT Now there is much significance in that He does not say, “The wrath of God shall come upon him,” but “abideth on him.” For from this wrath (in which we are a

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 30

WHY ONE IS BAPTIZED AND ANOTHER NOT, NOT OTHERWISE INSCRUTABLE Now those very persons, who think it unjust that infants which depart this life without the grace of Christ should be deprived not only of the kingdom of God

Chapter 37

CHAPTER 31 [XXII.]

HE REFUTES THOSE WHO SUPPOSE THAT SOULS, ON ACCOUNT OF SINS COMMITTED IN ANOTHER STATE, ARE THRUST INTO BODIES SUITED TO THEIR MERITS, IN WHICH THEY ARE MORE OR LESS TORMENTED Perhaps, however, the now exploded and rejec

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 32

THE CASE OF CERTAIN IDIOTS AND SIMPLETONS Now a good deal may be said of men’s strange vocations, — either such as we have read about, or have experienced ourselves, — which go to overthrow the opinion of those persons w

Chapter 39

CHAPTER 33

-- 137 of 1177 -- CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR AND REDEEMER EVEN OF INFANTS Let us therefore give in and yield our assent to the authority of Holy Scripture, which knows not how either to be deceived or to deceive; and as we do

Chapter 40

CHAPTER 34 [XXIV.]

BAPTISM IS CALLED SALVATION, AND THE EUCHARIST, LIFE, BY THE CHRISTIANS OF CARTHAGE The Christians of Carthage have an excellent name for the sacraments, when they say that baptism is nothing else than “salvation,” and t

Chapter 41

CHAPTER 35

-- 139 of 1177 -- UNLESS INFANTS ARE BAPTIZED, THEY REMAIN IN DARKNESS. “I am come,” says Christ, “a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” Now what does this passage show us

Chapter 42

CHAPTER 36

INFANTS NOT ENLIGHTENED AS SOON AS THEY ARE BORN Some, however, understand that as soon as children are born they are enlightened; and they derive this opinion from the passage: “That was the true Light, which lighteth e

Chapter 43

CHAPTER 37

HOW GOD ENLIGHTENS EVERY PERSON That statement, therefore, which occurs in the gospel, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every one that cometh into the world,” has this meaning, that no man is illuminated except w

Chapter 44

CHAPTER 38

WHAT “LIGHTETH” MEANS But why, after saying, “which lighteth every man,” should he add, “that cometh into the world,” — the clause which has suggested the opinion that He enlightens the minds of newlyborn babes while the

Chapter 45

CHAPTER 39 [XXVI.]

THE CONCLUSION DRAWN, THAT ALL ARE INVOLVED IN ORIGINAL SIN -- 142 of 1177 -- It would be tedious, were we fully to discuss, at similar length, every testimony bearing on the question. I suppose it will be the more con

Chapter 46

CHAPTER 40 [XXVII.]

A COLLECTION OF SCRIPTURE TESTIMONIES. FROM THE GOSPELS This reasoning will carry more weight, after I have collected the mass of Scripture testimonies which I have undertaken to adduce. We have already quoted: “I came n

Chapter 47

CHAPTER 41

FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER -- 144 of 1177 -- See with what earnestness the apostles declare this doctrine, when they received it. Peter, in his first Epistle, says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Chapter 48

CHAPTER 42

FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN Moreover, from John’s Epistle I meet with the following words, which seem indispensable to the solution of this question: “But it,” says he, “we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we

Chapter 49

CHAPTER 43

FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS Let me now request your attention to the testimony of the Apostle Paul on this subject. And quotations from him may of course be made more abundantly, because he wrote more epistles, and be

Chapter 50

CHAPTER 44

FROM THE EPISTLES TO THE CORINTHIANS Likewise to the Corinthians he says: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” Again, in his Sec

Chapter 51

CHAPTER 45

FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS Likewise to the Galatians the apostle writes: “Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us fr

Chapter 52

CHAPTER 46

FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS To the Ephesians he addresses words of the same import: “And you when ye were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according

Chapter 53

CHAPTER 47

FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS To the Colossians he addresses these words: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from

Chapter 54

CHAPTER 48

FROM THE EPISTLES TO TIMOTHY And then to Timothy he says: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obt

Chapter 55

CHAPTER 49

FROM THE EPISTLE TO TITUS Then again he writes to Titus as follows: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that He might redeem u

Chapter 56

CHAPTER 50

FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS Although the authority of the Epistle to the Hebrews is doubted by some, nevertheless, as I find it sometimes thought by persons, who oppose our opinion touching the baptism of infants, to

Chapter 57

CHAPTER 51

FROM THE APOCALYPSE -- 152 of 1177 -- The Revelation of John likewise tells us that in a new song these praises are offered to Christ: “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast sla

Chapter 58

CHAPTER 52

FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES To the like effect, in the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Peter designated the Lord Jesus as “the Author of life,” upbraiding the Jews for having put Him to death in these words: “But ye

Chapter 59

CHAPTER 53

THE UTILITY OF THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Under so great a weight of testimony, who would not be oppressed that should dare lift up his voice against the truth of God? And many other testimonies might be found, were

Chapter 60

CHAPTER 54

BY THE SACRIFICES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MEN WERE CONVINCED OF SINS AND LED TO THE SAVIOR And yet it is perhaps better to advance a few testimonies out of the Old Testament also, which ought to have a supplementary, or ra

Chapter 61

CHAPTER 55 [XXVIII.]

HE CONCLUDES THAT ALL MEN NEED THE DEATH OF CHRIST, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED. UNBAPTIZED INFANTS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE CONDEMNATION OF THE DEVIL. HOW ALL MEN THROUGH ADAM ARE UNTO CONDEMNATION; AND THROUGH CHRIS

Chapter 62

CHAPTER 56

NO ONE IS RECONCILED TO GOD EXCEPT THROUGH CHRIST Taking into account all the inspired statements which I have quoted, — whether I regard the value of each passage one by one, or combine their united testimony in an accu

Chapter 63

CHAPTER 57 [XXIX.]

THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE; FOUR DIFFERENT CASES OF THE GOOD AND THE EVIL USE OF MATRIMONY The good, then, of marriage lies not in the passion of desire, but in a certain legitimate and honorable measure in using that passion,

Chapter 64

CHAPTER 58 [XXX.]

IN WHAT RESPECT THE PELAGIANS REGARDED BAPTISM AS NECESSARY FOR INFANTS Let us now examine more carefully, so far as the Lord enables us, that very chapter of the Gospel where He says, “Except a man be born again, — of w

Chapter 65

CHAPTER 59

THE CONTEXT OF THEIR CHIEF TEXT “Now there was,” we read, “a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come fro

Chapter 66

CHAPTER 60 [XXXI.]

CHRIST, THE HEAD AND THE BODY; OWING TO THE UNION OF THE NATURES IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST, HE BOTH REMAINED IN HEAVEN, AND WALKED ABOUT ON EARTH; HOW THE ONE CHRIST COULD ASCEND TO HEAVEN; THE HEAD, AND THE BODY, THE ONE

Chapter 67

CHAPTER 61 [XXXII.]

THE SERPENT LIFTED UP IN THE WILDERNESS PREFIGURED CHRIST SUSPENDED ON THE CROSS; EVEN INFANTS THEMSELVES POISONED BY THE SERPENT’S BITE And since this great and wonderful dignity can only be attained by the remission of

Chapter 68

CHAPTER 62 [XXXIII.]

NO ONE CAN BE RECONCILED TO GOD, EXCEPT BY CHRIST He then proceeds thus, saying: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Chapter 69

CHAPTER 63 [XXXIV.]

THE FORM, OR RITE, OF BAPTISM. EXORCISM What shall I say of the actual form of this sacrament? I only wish some one of those who espouse the contrary side would bring me an infant to be baptized. What does my exorcism wo

Chapter 70

CHAPTER 64

A TWOFOLD MISTAKE RESPECTING INFANTS You see how great a difference there is amongst those whom I have been opposing at such length and persistency in this work, — one of whom has written the book which contains the poin

Chapter 71

CHAPTER 65 [XXXV.]

IN INFANTS THERE IS NO SIN OF THEIR OWN COMMISSION Will this also be questioned, and must we spend time in discussing it, in order to prove and show how that by their own will — without which there can be no sin in their

Chapter 72

CHAPTER 66

INFANTS’ FAULTS SPRING FROM THEIR SHEER IGNORANCE I should, however, wish any one who was wise on the point to tell me what sin he has seen or thought of in a new-born infant, for redemption from which he allows baptism

Chapter 73

CHAPTER 67 [XXXVI.]

-- 168 of 1177 -- ON THE IGNORANCE OF INFANTS, AND WHENCE IT ARISES Yes, let us consider that darkness of their rational intellect, by reason of which they are even completely ignorant of God, whose sacraments they actu

Chapter 74

CHAPTER 68 [XXXVII.]

IF ADAM WAS NOT CREATED OF SUCH A CHARACTER AS THAT IN WHICH WE ARE BORN, HOW IS IT THAT CHRIST, ALTHOUGH FREE FROM SIN, WAS BORN AN INFANT AND IN WEAKNESS? Some one will ask, If this nature is not pure, but corrupt from

Chapter 75

CHAPTER 69 [XXXVIII.]

THE IGNORANCE AND THE INFIRMITY OF AN INFANT But not to dwell on this, that was at least possible to them which has actually happened to many animals, the young of which are born small, and do not advance in mind (since

Chapter 76

CHAPTER 70 [XXXIX.]

HOW FAR SIN IS DONE AWAY IN INFANTS BY BAPTISM, ALSO IN ADULTS, AND WHAT ADVANTAGE RESULTS THE REFROM -- 171 of 1177 -- In infants it is certain that, by the grace of God, through His baptism who came in the likeness o

Chapter 77

BOOK II

IN WHICH AUGUSTIN ARGUES AGAINST SUCH AS SAY THAT IN THE PRESENT LIFE THERE ARE, HAVE BEEN, AND WILL BE, MEN WHO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SIN AT ALL. HE LAYS DOWN FOUR PROPOSITIONS ON THIS HEAD: AND TEACHES, FIRST, THAT A MAN

Chapter 78

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

WHAT HAS THUS FAR BEEN DWELT ON; AND WHAT IS TO BE TREATED IN THIS BOOK W E have, my dearest Marcellinus, discussed at sufficient length, I think, in the former book the baptism of infants, — how that it is given to them

Chapter 79

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

SOME PERSONS ATTRIBUTE TOO MUCH TO THE FREEDOM OF MAN’S WILL; IGNORANCE AND INFIRMITY A solution is extremely necessary of this question about a human life unassailed by any deception or preoccupation of sin, in conseque

Chapter 80

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

IN WHAT WAY GOD COMMANDS NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE. WORKS OF MERCY, MEANS OF WIPING OUT SINS Now these people imagine that they are acute (as if none among us knew it) when they say, that “if we have not the will, we commit no

Chapter 81

CHAPTER 4 [IV.]

CONCUPISCENCE, HOW FAR IN US; THE BAPTIZED ARE NOT INJURED BY CONCUPISCENCE, BUT ONLY BY CONSENT THEREWITH Concupiscence, therefore, as the law of sin which remains in the members of this body of death, is born with infa

Chapter 82

CHAPTER 5 [V.]

THE WILL OF MAN REQUIRES THE HELP OF GOD Now for the commission of sin we get no help from God; but we are not able to do justly, and to fulfill the law of righteousness in every part thereof, -- 176 of 1177 -- except

Chapter 83

CHAPTER 6

WHEREIN THE PHARISEE SINNED WHEN HE THANKED GOD; TO GOD’S GRACE MUST BE ADDED THE EXERTION OF OUR OWN WILL Let us then drive away from our ears and minds those who say that we ought to accept the determination of our own

Chapter 84

CHAPTER 7 [VI.]

-- 178 of 1177 -- FOUR QUESTIONS ON THE PERFECTION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: (1.) WHETHER A MAN CAN BE WITHOUT SIN IN THIS LIFE Now those who aver that a man can exist in this life without sin, must not be immediately oppo

Chapter 85

CHAPTER 8 [VII.]

(2.) WHETHER THERE IS IN THIS WORLD A MAN WITHOUT SIN [2 nd.] If, however, I am asked the second question which I have suggested, — whether there be a sinless man, — I believe there is not. For I rather believe the Scrip

Chapter 86

CHAPTER 9

-- 180 of 1177 -- THE BEGINNING OF RENEWAL; RESURRECTION CALLED REGENERATION; THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD WHO LEAD LIVES SUITABLE TO NEWNESS OF LIFE And hence in the passage, “Whosoever is born of God doth not sin, and he

Chapter 87

CHAPTER 10 [VIII.]

PERFECTION, WHEN TO BE REALIZED Our full adoption, then, as children, is to happen at the redemption of our body. It is therefore the first-fruits of the Spirit which we now possess, whence we are already really become t

Chapter 88

CHAPTER 11 [IX.]

AN OBJECTION OF THE PELAGIANS: WHY DOES NOT A RIGHTEOUS MAN BEGET A RIGHTEOUS MAN ? In vain, then, do some of them argue: “If a sinner begets a sinner, so that the guilt of original sin must be done away in his infant so

Chapter 89

CHAPTER 12 [X.]

HE RECONCILES SOME PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE The statement, therefore, “He that is born of God sinneth not,” is not contrary to the passage in which it is declared by those who are born of God, “If we say that we have no sin

Chapter 90

CHAPTER 13

A SUBTERFUGE OF THE PELAGIANS Daniel, indeed, after the prayer which he poured out before God, actually says respecting himself, “Whilst I was praying and confessing my sins, and the sins of my people, before the Lord my

Chapter 91

CHAPTER 14

JOB WAS NOT WITHOUT SIN -- 185 of 1177 -- But let us see what Job has to say of himself, after God’s great testimony of his righteousness. “I know of a truth,” he says, “that it is so: for how shall a mortal man be jus

Chapter 92

CHAPTER 15

CARNAL GENERATION CONDEMNED ON ACCOUNT OF ORIGINAL SIN He sets forth that this absolute weakness, or rather condemnation, of carnal generation is from the transgression of original sin, when, treating of his own sins, he

Chapter 93

CHAPTER 16

JOB FORESAW THAT CHRIST WOULD COME TO SUFFER; THE WAY OF HUMILITY IN THOSE THAT ARE PERFECT Now it is remarkable that the Lord Himself, after bestowing on Job the testimony which is expressed in Scripture, that is, by th

Chapter 94

CHAPTER 17 [XII.]

NO ONE RIGHTEOUS IN ALL THINGS. That illustrious testimony of God, therefore, in which Job is commended, is not contrary to the passage in which it is said, “In Thy sight shall no man living be justified;” for it does no

Chapter 95

CHAPTER 18 [XIII.]

PERFECT HUMAN RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IMPERFECT There are then on earth righteous men, there are great men, brave, prudent, chaste, patient, pious, merciful, who endure all kinds of temporal evil with an even mind for righteous

Chapter 96

CHAPTER 19

ZACHARIAS AND ELISABETH, SINNERS Now what must we say of Zacharias and Elisabeth, who are often alleged against us in discussions on this question, except that there is clear evidence in the Scripture that Zacharias was

Chapter 97

CHAPTER 20

PAUL WORTHY TO BE THE PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES, AND YET A SINNER What commendation, however, is bestowed on Zacharias and Elisabeth which is not comprehended in what the apostle has said about himself before he believed in

Chapter 98

CHAPTER 21 [XIV.]

ALL RIGHTEOUS MEN SINNERS In like manner, all who are described in the Scriptures as exhibiting in their present life good will and the actions of righteousness, and all who have lived like them since, although lacking t

Chapter 99

CHAPTER 22 [XV.]

AN OBJECTION OF THE PELAGIANS; PERFECTION IS RELATIVE; HE IS RIGHTLY SAID TO BE PERFECT IN RIGHTEOUSNESS WHO HAS MADE MUCH PROGRESS THEREIN “Well, but,” they say, “the Lord says, ‘Be ye perfect even as your Father which

Chapter 100

CHAPTER 23 [XXI.]

WHY GOD PRESCRIBES WHAT HE KNOWS CANNOT BE OBSERVED -- 194 of 1177 -- We must not deny that God commands that we ought to be so perfect in doing righteousness, as to have no sin at all. Now that cannot be sin, whatever

Chapter 101

CHAPTER 24

AN OBJECTION OF THE PELAGIANS. THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS NOT FREE PROM SIN SO LONG AS HE LIVED “But see,” say they, “how the apostle says, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished my course: hencefo

Chapter 102

CHAPTER 25

GOD PUNISHES BOTH IN WRATH AND IN MERCY -- 196 of 1177 -- Although there are some men who are so eminent in righteousness that God speaks to them out of His cloudy pillar, such as “Moses and Aaron among His priests, an

Chapter 103

CHAPTER 26 [XVII.]

(3.) WHY NO ONE IN THIS LIFE IS WITHOUT SIN [3 rd.] Let us now consider the point which I mentioned as our third inquiry. Since by divine grace assisting the human will, man may possibly exist in this life without sin, w

Chapter 104

CHAPTER 27

THE DIVINE REMEDY FOR PRIDE You cannot therefore attribute to God the cause of any human fault. For of all human offenses, the cause is pride. For the conviction and removal of this a great remedy comes from heaven. God

Chapter 105

CHAPTER 28 [XVIII.]

A GOOD WILL COMES FROM GOD Men, however, are laboring to find in our own will some good thing of our own, — not given to us by God; but how it is to be found I cannot imagine. The apostle says, when speaking of men’s goo

Chapter 106

CHAPTER 29

A SUBTERFUGE OF THE PELAGIANS -- 199 of 1177 -- Now, with reference to the passage of the apostle which I have quoted, some would maintain it to mean that “whatever amount of good will a man has, must be attributed to

Chapter 107

CHAPTER 30

ALL WILL IS EITHER GOOD, AND THEN IT LOVES RIGHTEOUSNESS, OR EVIL, WHEN IT DOES NOT LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS Unless, therefore, we obtain not simply determination of will, which is freely turned in this direction and that, and

Chapter 108

CHAPTER 31

GRACE IS GIVEN TO SOME MEN IN MERCY; IS WITHHELD FROM OTHERS IN JUSTICE AND TRUTH Forasmuch then as our turning away from God is our own act, and this is evil will; but our turning to God is not possible, except He rouse

Chapter 109

CHAPTER 32

GOD’S SOVEREIGNITY IN HIS GRACE As to the reason why He wills to convert some, and to punish others for turning away, — although nobody can justly censure the merciful One in conferring His blessing, nor can any man just

Chapter 110

CHAPTER 33

THROUGH GRACE WE HAVE BOTH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD, AND THE DELIGHT WHICH IT AFFORDS But when we pray Him to give us His help to do and accomplish righteousness, what else do we pray for than that He would open what was hi

Chapter 111

CHAPTER 34 [XX.]

(4.) THAT NO MAN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHRIST, HAS EVER LIVED, OR CAN LIVE WITHOUT SIN. [4 th.] There now remains our fourth point, after the explanation of which, as God shall help us, this lengthened treatise of ours

Chapter 112

CHAPTER 35 [XXI.]

ADAM AND EVE; OBEDIENCE MOST STRONGLY ENJOINED BY GOD ON MAN When the first human beings — the one man Adam, and his wife Eve who came out of him — willed not to obey the commandment which they had received from God, a j

Chapter 113

CHAPTER 36 [XXII.]

MAN’S STATE BEFORE THE FALL Before they had thus violated their obedience they were pleasing to God, and God was pleasing to them; and though they carried about an animal body, they yet felt in it no disobedience moving

Chapter 114

CHAPTER 37 [XXIII.]

THE CORRUPTION OF NATURE IS BY SIN, ITS RENOVATION IS BY CHRIST From this law of sin is born the flesh of sin, which requires cleansing through the sacrament of Him who came in the likeness of sinful flesh, that the body

Chapter 115

CHAPTER 38 [XXIV]

WHAT BENEFIT HAS BEEN CONFERRED ON US BY THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD; CHRIST’S BIRTH IN THE FLESH, WHEREIN IT IS LIKE AND WHEREIN UNLIKE OUR OWN BIRTH He goes on to add, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us;”

Chapter 116

CHAPTER 39 [XXV.]

AN OBJECTION OF PELAGIANS The answer, which we have already given, to those who say, “If a sinner has begotten a sinner, a righteous man ought also to have begotten a righteous man,” we now advance in reply to such as ar

Chapter 117

CHAPTER 40

AN ARGUMENT ANTICIPATED And let no one contend that the descendants of Abraham might fairly enough have paid tithes, although they had already paid tithes in the loins of their forefather, seeing that paying tithes was a

Chapter 118

CHAPTER 41

CHILDREN OF BELIEVERS ARE CALLED “CLEAN” BY THE APOSTLE. The apostle indeed says, “Else were your children unclean, but now are they holy;” and “therefore” they infer “there was no necessity for the children of believers

Chapter 119

CHAPTER 42

SANCTIFICATION MANIFOLD; SACRAMENT OF CATECHUMENS Our opinions on this point are strictly in unison with the apostle’s himself, who said, “From one all to condemnation,” and “from one all to justification of life.” No

Chapter 120

CHAPTER 43 [XXVII.]

WHY THE CHILDREN OF THE BAPTIZED SHOULD BE BAPTIZED -- 212 of 1177 -- If any man, however, is still perplexed by the question why the children of baptized persons are baptized, let him briefly consider this: Inasmuch a

Chapter 121

CHAPTER 44

AN OBJECTION OF THE PELAGIANS Nor do they fail to see this point, that his own sins are no detriment to the parent after his conversion; they therefore raise the question: “How much more impossible is it that they should

Chapter 122

CHAPTER 45 [XXVIII.]

THE LAW OF SIX IS CALLED SIN; HOW CONCUPISCENCE STILL REMAINS AFTER ITS EVIL HAS BEEN REMOVED IN THE BAPTIZED This law of sin, however, which the apostle also designates “sin,” when he says, “Let not sin therefore reign

Chapter 123

CHAPTER 46

GUILT MAY BE TAKEN AWAY BUT CONCUPISCENCE REMAIN You must not be surprised at what I have said, that although the law of sin remains with its concupiscence, the guilt thereof is done away through the grace of the sacrame

Chapter 124

CHAPTER 47 [XXIX.]

ALL THE PREDESTINATED ARE SAVED THROUGH THE ONE MEDIATOR CHRIST, AND BY ONE AND THE SAME FAITH This being the case, ever since the time when by one man sin thus entered into this world and death by sin, and so it passed

Chapter 125

CHAPTER 48

CHRIST THE SAVIOR EVEN OF INFANTS; CHRIST, WHEN AN INFANT, WAS FREE FROM IGNORANCE AND MENTAL WEAKNESS He is therefore the Savior at once of infants and of adults, of whom the angel said, “There is born unto you this day

Chapter 126

CHAPTER 49 [XXX.]

AN OBJECTION OF THE PELAGIANS They therefore who say, “If through the sin of the first man it was brought about that we must die, by the coming of Christ it should be brought about that, believing in Him, we shall not di

Chapter 127

CHAPTER 50 [XXXI.]

-- 218 of 1177 -- WHY IT IS THAT DEATH ITSELF IS NOT ABOLISHED, ALONG WITH SIN, BY BAPTISM He might, however, have also conferred this upon believers, that they should not even experience the death of their body. But if

Chapter 128

CHAPTER 51

WHY THE DEVIL IS SAID TO HOLD THE POWER AND DOMINION OF DEATH Hence the Lord Himself willed to die, “in order that,” as it is written of Him, “through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the

Chapter 129

CHAPTER 52 [XXXII.]

WHY CHRIST, AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, WITHDREW HIS PRESENCE FROM THE WORLD -- 220 of 1177 -- Although, therefore, the Lord wrought many visible miracles in order that faith might sprout at first and be fed by infant nour

Chapter 130

CHAPTER 53 [XXXIII.]

AN OBJECTION OF THE PELAGIANS But those persons who say, “If the death of the body has happened by sin, we of course ought not to die after that remission of sins which the -- 221 of 1177 -- Redeemer has bestowed upon

Chapter 131

CHAPTER 54 [XXXIV.]

WHY PUNISHMENT IS INFLICTED, AFTER SIN HAS BEEN FORGIVEN But, inasmuch as there are not wanting persons of such character, just as we say in answer to those who raise this question, that those things are punishments of s

Chapter 132

CHAPTER 55

TO RECOVER THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HAD BEEN LOST BY SIN, MAN HAS TO STRUGGLE, WITH ABUNDANT LABOR AND SORROW The flesh which was originally created was not that sinful flesh in which man refused to maintain his righteous

Chapter 133

CHAPTER 56

THE CASE OF DAVID, IN ILLUSTRATION Some such thought has occurred to us about the patriarch David, in the Book of Kings. After the prophet was sent to him, and threatened him with the evils which were to arise from the a

Chapter 134

CHAPTER 57 [XXXV.]

TURN TO NEITHER HAND Let us hold fast, then, the confession of this faith, without filtering or failure. One alone is there who was born without sin, in the likeness of sinful flesh, who lived without sin amid the sins o

Chapter 135

CHAPTER 58 [XXXVI.]

“LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH” IMPLIES THE REALITY It is no small concession to the authority and truthfulness of the inspired pages which those persons have made, who, although unwilling to admit openly in their writings th

Chapter 136

CHAPTER 59

WHETHER THE SOUL IS PROPAGATED; ON OBSCURE POINTS, CONCERNING WHICH THE SCRIPTURES GIVE US NO ASSISTANCE, WE MUST BE ON OUR GUARD AGAINST FORMING HASTY JUDGMENTS AND OPINIONS; THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR ENOUGH ON THOSE SUB

Chapter 137

BOOK III

IN THE SHAPE OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE SAME MARCELLINUS IN WHICH AUGUSTIN REFUTES SOME ERRORS OF PELAGIUS ON THE QUESTION OF THE MERITS OF SINS AND THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS — BEING SUNDRY ARGUMENTS OF HIS WHICH HE HAD I

Chapter 138

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

PELAGIUS ESTEEMED A HOLY MAN; HIS EXPOSITIONS ON SAINT PAUL T HE questions which you proposed that I should write to you about, in opposition to those persons who say that Adam would have died even if he had not sinned,

Chapter 139

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

PELAGIUS’ OBJECTION; INFANTS RECKONED AMONG THE NUMBER OF BELIEVERS AND THE FAITHFUL In these terms, then, the argument is stated: — “But they who deny the transmission of sin endeavor to impugn it thus: If (say they) Ad

Chapter 140

CHAPTER 3

PELAGIUS MAKES GOD UNJUST We are driven at last to yield our assent on divine authority to that which we are unable to investigate with even the dearest intellect. It is well that they remind us themselves that Christ’s

Chapter 141

CHAPTER 4

To the other points which Pelagius makes them urge who argue against original sin, I have already, I think, sufficiently and clearly replied in the two former books of my lengthy treatise. Now if my reply should seem to

Chapter 142

CHAPTER 5 [III.]

PELAGIUS PRAISED BY SOME; ARGUMENTS AGAINST ORIGINAL SIN PROPOSED BY PELAGIUS IN HIS COMMENTARY But we must not indeed omit to observe that this good and praiseworthy man (as they who know him describe him to be) h

Chapter 143

CHAPTER 6

WHY PELAGIUS DOES NOT SPEAK IN HIS OWN PERSON Pray, don’t you see how Pelagius has inserted the whole of this paragraph in his writings, not in his own person, but in that of others, knowing so well the novelty of this u

Chapter 144

CHAPTER 7 [IV.]

PROOF OF ORIGINAL SIN IN INFANTS Now, although I may not be able myself to refute the arguments of these men, I yet see how necessary it is to adhere closely to the clearest statements of the Scriptures, in order that th

Chapter 145

CHAPTER 8

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR EVEN OF INFANTS And therefore, if there is an ambiguity in the apostle’s words when he says, “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so it passed upon all men;” and if it is poss

Chapter 146

CHAPTER 9

THE AMBIGUITY OF “ADAM IS THE FIGURE OF HIM TO COME.” -- 233 of 1177 -- To me, however, no doubt presents itself about the whole of this passage, in which the apostle speaks of the condemnation of many through the sin

Chapter 147

CHAPTER 10 [V.]

HE SHOWS THAT CYPRIAN HAD NOT DOUBTED THE ORIGINAL SIN OF INFANTS Accordingly, it is not without reason that the blessed Cyprian a carefully shows how from the very first the Church has held this as a well understood art

Chapter 148

CHAPTER 11

-- 235 of 1177 -- THE ANCIENTS ASSUMED ORIGINAL SIN You see with what confidence this great man expresses himself after the ancient and undoubted rule of faith. In advancing such very certain statements, his object was

Chapter 149

CHAPTER 12 [VI.]

THE UNIVERSAL CONSENSUS RESPECTING ORIGINAL SIN -- 236 of 1177 -- And now, again, with a strange boldness in new controversy, certain persons are endeavoring to make us uncertain on a point which our forefathers used t

Chapter 150

CHAPTER 13 [VII.]

THE ERROR OF JOVINIANUS DID NOT EXTEND SO FAR A few years ago there lived at Rome one Jovinian, who is said to have persuaded nuns of even advanced age to marry, — not, indeed, by seduction, as if he wanted to make any o

Chapter 151

CHAPTER 14

THE OPINIONS OF ALL CONTROVERSIALISTS WHATEVER ARE NOT, HOWEVER, CANONICAL AUTHORITY; ORIGINAL SIN, HOW ANOTHER’S; WE WERE ALL ONE MAN IN ADAM I have not quoted these words as if we might rely upon the opinions of every

Chapter 152

CHAPTER 15 [VIII.]

WE ALL SINNED ADAM’S SIN “It is,” they say, “by no means conceded that God who remits to a man his own sins imputes to him another’s.” He remits, indeed, but it is to those -- 239 of 1177 -- regenerated by the Spirit,

Chapter 153

CHAPTER 16

ORIGIN OF ERRORS; A SIMILE SOUGHT FROM THE FORESKIN OF THE CIRCUMCISED, AND FROM THE CHAFF OF WHEAT “But surely,” say they, “if baptism cleanses the primeval sin, they who are born of two baptized parents ought to be fre

Chapter 154

CHAPTER 17 [IX.]

CHRISTIANS DO NOT ALWAYS BEGET CHRISTIAN, NOR THE PURE, PURE CHILDREN With these and such like palpable arguments, should I endeavor, as I best could, to convince those persons who believed that sacraments of cleansing w

Chapter 155

CHAPTER 18 [X.]

IS THE SOUL DERIVED BY NATURAL PROPAGATION? Well, but “if the soul is not propagated, but the flesh alone, then the latter alone has propagation of sin, and it alone deserves punishment:” this is what they think, saying

Chapter 156

CHAPTER 19 [XI.]

SIN AND DEATH IN ADAM, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LIFE IN CHRIST What the apostle says.: “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so it passed upon all men, in which all have sinned;” we must, however, for th

Chapter 157

CHAPTER 20

THE STING OF DEATH, WHAT? But even in the passage to the Corinthians, where he had been treating fully of the resurrection, the apostle concludes his statement in such a way as not to permit us to doubt that the death of

Chapter 158

CHAPTER 21 [XII.]

THE PRECEPT ABOUT TOUCHING THE MENSTRUOUS WOMAN NOT TO BE FIGURATIVELY UNDERSTOOD ; THE NECESSITY OF THE SACRAMENTS Let no one, then, on this subject be either deceived or a deceiver. The manifest sense of Holy Scripture

Chapter 159

CHAPTER 22 [XIII.]

WE OUGHT TO BE ANXIOUS TO SECURE THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS For this is the point aimed at by the controversy, against the novelty of which we have to struggle by the aid of ancient truth: that it is clearly altogether super

Chapter 160

CHAPTER 23

-- 247 of 1177 -- EPILOGUE As for what they say, that some men, by the use of their reason, have lived, and do live, in this world without sin, we should wish that it were true, we should strive to make it true, we shou

Chapter 161

Book II. CHAP. 37,

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE, “DE SPIRITU ET LITTERA.” T HE person to whom I had addressed the three books entitled De Peccatorum Meritis et Remissione, in which I carefully discussed also the baptism of infants, informed m

Chapter 162

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

THE OCCASION OF WRITING THIS WORK; A THING MAY BE CAPABLE OF BEING DONE, AND YET MAY NEVER BE DONE A FTER reading the short treatises which I lately drew up for you, my beloved son Marcellinus, about the baptism of infan

Chapter 163

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

THE EXAMPLES APPOSITE -- 251 of 1177 -- Here, perhaps, you will say to me in answer, that the things which I have instanced as not having been realized, although capable of realization, are divine works; whereas a man’

Chapter 164

CHAPTER 3

THEIRS IS COMPARATIVELY A HARMLESS ERROR, WHO SAY THAT A MAN LIVES HERE WITHOUT SIN They therefore are not a very dangerous set of persons and they ought to be urged to show, if they are able, that they are themselves su

Chapter 165

CHAPTER 4

THEIRS IS A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ERROR, REQUIRING A VERY VIGOROUS REFUTATION, WHO DENY GOD’S GRACE TO BE NECESSARY They, however, must be resisted with the utmost ardor and vigor who suppose that without God’s help, the mer

Chapter 166

CHAPTER 5 [III.]

TRUE GRACE IS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, WHICH KINDLES IN THE SOUL THE JOY AND LOVE OF GOODNESS We, however, on our side affirm that the human will is so divinely aided in the pursuit of righteousness, that (in addition

Chapter 167

CHAPTER 6 [IV.]

THE TEACHING OF LAW WITHOUT THE LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT IS “THE LETTER THAT KILLETH.” For that teaching which brings to us the command to live in chastity and righteousness is “the letter that killeth,” unless accompanied wit

Chapter 168

CHAPTER 7 [V.]

WHAT IS PROPOSED TO BE HERE TREATED We will, however, consider, if you please, the whole of this passage of the apostle and thoroughly handle it, as the Lord shall enable us. For I want, if possible, to prove that the ap

Chapter 169

CHAPTER 8

ROMANS INTERPRETS CORINTHIANS Attend, then, carefully, to the apostle while in his Epistle to the Romans he explains and clearly enough shows that what he wrote to the Corinthians, “The letter killeth, but the spirit giv

Chapter 170

CHAPTER 9 [VI]

-- 256 of 1177 -- THROUGH THE LAW SIN HAS ABOUNDED The apostle, then, wishing to commend the grace which has come to all nations through Jesus Christ, lest the Jews should extol themselves at the expense of the other pe

Chapter 171

CHAPTER 10

CHRIST THE TRUE HEALER Accordingly, the apostle shows that the same medicine was mystically set forth in the passion and resurrection of Christ, when he says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus

Chapter 172

CHAPTER 11 [VII.]

FROM WHAT FOUNTAIN GOOD WORKS FLOW This holy meditation preserves “the children of men, who put their trust under the shadow of God’s wings,” so that they are “drunken with the fatness of His house, and drink of the full

Chapter 173

CHAPTER 12

PAUL, WHENCE SO CALLED; BRAVELY CONTENDS FOR GRACE Accordingly Paul, who, although he was formerly called Saul, chose this new designation, for no other reason, as it seems to me, than because he would show himself littl

Chapter 174

CHAPTER 13 [VIII.]

KEEPING THE LAW; THE JEWS’ GLORYING; THE FEAR OF PUNISHMENT; THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART Then comes what I mentioned above; then he shows what the Jew is, and says that he is called a Jew, but by no means fulfills what

Chapter 175

CHAPTER 14

-- 261 of 1177 -- IN WHAT RESPECT THE PELAGIANS ACKNOWLEDGE GOD AS THE AUTHOR OF OUR JUSTIFICATION “But,” say they, “we do praise God as the Author of our righteousness, in that He gave the law, by the teaching of which

Chapter 176

CHAPTER 15 [IX.]

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD MANIFESTED BY THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS Here, perhaps, it may be said by that presumption of man, which is ignorant of the righteousness of God, and wishes to establish one of its own, that the ap

Chapter 177

CHAPTER 16 [X.]

HOW THE LAW WAS NOT MADE FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN Because “for a righteous man the law was not made;” and yet “the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.” Now by connecting together these two seemingly contrary statements, th

Chapter 178

CHAPTER 17

THE EXCLUSION OF BOASTING Accordingly he says, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.” He may either mean, the laudable boasting, which is in the Lord; and that it i

Chapter 179

CHAPTER 18 [XI.]

PIETY IS WISDOM; THAT IS CALLED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, WHICH HE PRODUCES Now, this meditation makes a man godly, and this godliness is true wisdom. By godliness I mean that which the Greeks designate qeosebeia, that v

Chapter 180

CHAPTER 19 [XII]

THE KNOWLEDGED OF GOD THROUGH THE CREATION And then the apostle very properly turns from this point to describe with detestation those men who, light-minded and puffed up by the sin which I have mentioned in the precedin

Chapter 181

CHAPTER 20

THE LAW WITHOUT GRACE Now why need I speak of what follows? For why it was that by this their impiety those men — I mean those who could have known the Creator through the creature — fell (since “God resisteth the proud”

Chapter 182

CHAPTER 21 [XIII.]

THE LAW OF WORKS AND THE LAW OF FAITH The law, then, of deeds, that is, the law of works, whereby this boasting is not excluded, and the law of faith, by which it is excluded, differ from each other; and this difference

Chapter 183

CHAPTER 22

NO MAN JUSTIFIED BY WORKS What the difference between them is, I will briefly explain. What the law of works enjoins by menace, that the law of faith secures by faith. The one -- 270 of 1177 -- says, “Thou shalt not co

Chapter 184

CHAPTER 23 [XIV.]

HOW THE DECALOGUE KILLS, IF GRACE BE NOT PRESENT Although, therefore, the apostle seems to reprove and correct those who were being persuaded to be circumcised, in such terms as to designate by the word “law” circumcisio

Chapter 185

CHAPTER 24

THE PASSAGE IN CORINTHIANS In the passage where he speaks to the Corinthians about the letter that kills, and the spirit that gives life, he expresses himself more clearly, but he does not mean even there any other “lett

Chapter 186

CHAPTER 25

THE PASSAGE IN ROMANS Now carefully consider this entire passage, and see whether it says anything about circumcision, or the Sabbath, or anything else pertaining to a foreshadowing sacrament. Does not its whole scope am

Chapter 187

CHAPTER 26

NO FRUIT GOOD EXCEPT IT GROW FROM THE ROOT OF LOVE It is evident, then, that the oldness of the letter, in the absence of the newness of the spirit, instead of freeing us from sin, rather makes us guilty by the knowledge

Chapter 188

CHAPTER 27 [XV.]

GRACE, CONCEALED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IS REVEALED IN THE NEW This grace hid itself under a veil in the Old Testament, but it has been revealed in the New Testament according to the most perfectly ordered dispensation of

Chapter 189

CHAPTER 28 [XVI]

WHY THE HOLY GHOST IS CALLED THE FINGER OF GOD “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Now this Spirit of God, by whose gift we are justified, whence it comes to pass that we

Chapter 190

CHAPTER 29 [XVII.]

A COMPARISON OF THE LAW OF MOSES AND OF THE NEW LAW Now, amidst this admirable correspondence, there is at least this very considerable diversity in the cases, in that the people in the earlier instance were deterred by

Chapter 191

CHAPTER 30

THE NEW LAW WRITTEN WITHIN Now, observe how consonant this diversity is with those words of the apostle which I quoted not long ago in another connection, and which I postponed for a more careful consideration afterwards

Chapter 192

CHAPTER 31 [XVIII.]

THE OLD LAW MINISTERS DEATH; THE NEW, RIGHTEOUSNESS Now, since, as he says in another passage, “the law was added because of transgression,” meaning the law which is written externally to man, he therefore designat

Chapter 193

CHAPTER 32 [XIX.]

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH TOUCHING THE ASSISTANCE OF GRACE Let no Christian then stray from this faith, which alone is the Christian one; nor let any one, when he has been made to feel ashamed to say that we become righteous t

Chapter 194

CHAPTER 33

THE PROPHECY OF JEREMIAH CONCERNING THE NEW TESTAMENT Observe this also in that testimony which was given by the prophet on this subject in the clearest way: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will consummate

Chapter 195

CHAPTER 34

THE LAW; GRACE After saying, “Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt,” observe what He adds: “Because they continued

Chapter 196

CHAPTER 35 [XX.]

THE OLD LAW; THE NEW LAW The one was therefore old, because the other is new. But whence comes it that one is old and the other new, when the same law, which said in the Old Testament, “Thou shalt not covet,” is fulfille

Chapter 197

CHAPTER 36 [XXI.]

THE LAW WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS What then is God’s law written by God Himself in the hearts of men, but the very presence of the Holy Spirit, who is “the finger of God,” and by whose presence is shed abroad in our hearts t

Chapter 198

CHAPTER 37 [XXII.]

THE ETERNAL REWARD He then went on to state the reward: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This corresponds to the Psalmist’s words to God: “It is good for me to hold me fast by God.” “I will be,” says G

Chapter 199

CHAPTER 38 [XXIII.]

THE RE-FORMATION WHICH IS NOW BEING EFFECTED, COMPARED WITH THE PERFECTION OF THE LIFE TO COME -- 284 of 1177 -- But what is this change, and how great, in comparison with the perfect eminence which is then to be reali

Chapter 200

CHAPTER 39 [XXIV]

THE ETERNAL REWARD WHICH IS SPECIALLY DECLARED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FORETOLD BY THE PROPHET Accordingly, in our prophet likewise, whose testimony we are dealing with, this is added, that in God is the reward, in Him the

Chapter 201

CHAPTER 40

HOW THAT IS TO BE THE REWARD OF ALL; THE APOSTLE EARNESTLY DEPENDS GRACE What then is the import of the “ All, from the least unto the greatest of them,” but all that belong spiritually to the house of Israel and to the

Chapter 202

CHAPTER 41

THE LAW WRITTEN IN THE HEART, AND THE REWARD OF THE ETERNAL CONTEMPLATION OF GOD, BELONG TO THE NEW COVENANT; WHO AMONG THE SAINTS ARE THE LEAST AND THE GREATEST As then the law of works, which was written on the tables

Chapter 203

CHAPTER 42 [XXV.]

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENTS I beg of you, however, carefully to observe, as far as you can, what I am endeavoring to prove with so much effort. When the prophet promised a new covenant, not accordin

Chapter 204

CHAPTER 43 [XXVI.]

A QUESTION TOUCHING THE PASSAGE IN THE APOSTLE ABOUT THE GENTILES WHO ARE SAID TO DO BY NATURE THE LAW’S COMMANDS, WHICH THEY ARE ALSO SAID TO HAVE WRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS Now we must see in what sense it is that the apo

Chapter 205

CHAPTER 44

THE ANSWER IS, THAT THE PASSAGE MUST BE UNDERSTOOD OF THE FAITHFUL OF THE NEW COVENANT Has the apostle perhaps mentioned those Gentiles as having the law written in their hearts who belong to the new testament? We must l

Chapter 206

CHAPTER 45

IT IS NOT BY THEIR WORKS, BUT BY GRACE, THAT THE DOERS OF THE LAW ARE JUSTIFIED; GOD’S SAINTS AND GOD’S NAME HALLOWED IN DIFFERENT SENSES Now he could not mean to contradict himself in saying, “The doers of the law shall

Chapter 207

CHAPTER 47 [XXVII.]

THE LAW “BEING DONE BY NATURE” MEANS, DONE BY NATURE AS RESTORED BY GRACE Nor ought it to disturb us that the apostle described them as doing that which is contained in the law “by nature,” — not by the Spirit of God, no

Chapter 208

CHAPTER 50 [XXIX.]

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE GIFT OF GOD Let no man therefore boast of that which he seems to possess, as if he had not received it; nor let him think that he has received it merely because the external letter of the law has bee

Chapter 209

CHAPTER 51

FAITH THE GROUND OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS The righteousness of the law is proposed in these terms, — that whosoever shall do it shall live in it; and the purpose is, that when each has discovered his own weakness, he may not

Chapter 210

CHAPTER 52 [XXX.]

GRACE ESTABLISHES FREE WILL Do we then by grace make void free will? God forbid! Nay, rather we establish free will. For even as the law by faith, so free will by grace, is not made void, but established. For neither is

Chapter 211

CHAPTER 53 [XXXI.]

VOLITION AND ABILITY Some one will ask whether the faith itself, in which seems to be the beginning either of salvation, or of that series leading to salvation which I have just mentioned, is placed in our power. We shal

Chapter 212

CHAPTER 54

WHETHER FAITH BE IN A MAN’S OWN POWER Attend now to the point which we have laid down for discussion: whether faith is in our own power? We now speak of that faith which we employ when we believe anything, not that which

Chapter 213

CHAPTER 55 [XXXII.]

WHAT FAITH IS LAUDABLE Since faith, then, is in our power, inasmuch as every one believes when he likes, and, when he believes, believes voluntarily; our next inquiry, which we must conduct with care, is, What faith it i

Chapter 214

CHAPTER 56

THE FAITH OF THOSE WHO ARE UNDER THE LAW DIFFERENT FROM THE FAITH OF OTHERS But there is yet another distinction to be observed, — since they who are under the law both attempt to work their own righteousness through fea

Chapter 215

CHAPTER 57 [XXXIII.]

WHENCE COMES THE WILL TO BELIEVE ? But it remains for us briefly to inquire, Whether the will by which we believe be itself the gift of God, or whether it arise from that free will which is naturally implanted in us? If

Chapter 216

CHAPTER 58

THE FREE WILL OF MAN IS AN INTERMEDIATE POWER Let us then, first of all, lay down this proposition, and see whether it satisfies the question before us: that free will, naturally assigned by the Creator to our rational s

Chapter 217

CHAPTER 59

MERCY AND PITY IN THE JUDGMENT OF GOD This is the order observed in the psalm, where it is said: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His recompenses; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy dis

Chapter 218

CHAPTER 60 [XXXIV.]

THE WILL TO BELIEVE IS FROM GOD Let this discussion suffice, if it satisfactorily meets the question we had to solve. It may be, however, objected in reply, that we must take heed lest some one should suppose that the si

Chapter 219

CHAPTER 61 [XXXV.]

CONCLUSION OF THE WORK Let us at last bring our book to an end. I hardly know whether we have accomplished our purpose at all by our great prolixity. It is not in respect of you, [my Marcellinus,] that I have this misgiv

Chapter 220

CHAPTER 62

HE RETURNS TO THE QUESTION WHICH MARCELLINUS HAD PROPOSED TO HIM But I beg of you to advert to the question which you proposed to me, and to what we have made out of it in the lengthy process of this discussion. You were

Chapter 221

CHAPTER 63

AN OBJECTION But inasmuch as it may be said that the instances which I have been quoting are divine works, whereas to live righteously is a work that belongs to ourselves, I undertook to show that even this too is a divi

Chapter 222

CHAPTER 64 [XXXVI.]

WHEN THE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE IS FULFILLED But somebody will perhaps think that we lack nothing for the knowledge of righteousness, since the Lord, when He summarily and briefly expounded His word on earth, informed us th

Chapter 223

CHAPTER 65

IN WHAT SENSE A SINLESS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THIS LIFE CAN BE ASSERTED Forasmuch, however, as an inferior righteousness may be said to be competent to this life, whereby the just man lives by faith although absent from the L

Chapter 224

CHAPTER 66

ALTHOUGH PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS BE NOT FOUND HERE ON EARTH, IT IS STILL NOT IMPOSSIBLE But let objectors find, if they can, any man, while living under the weight of this corruption, in whom God has no longer anything to

Chapter 225

BOOK II. CHAP. 42,

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE, “DE NATURA ET GRATIA.” “A T that time also there came into my hands a certain book of Pelagius’, in which he defends with all the argumentative skill he could muster, the nature of man, in oppo

Chapter 226

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

THE OCCASION OF PUBLISHING THIS WORK; WHAT GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS T HE book which you sent to me, my beloved sons, Timasius and Jacobus, I have read through hastily, but not indifferently, omitting only the few points wh

Chapter 227

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

FAITH IN CHRIST NOT NECESSARY TO SALVATION, IF A MAN WITHOUT IT CAN LEAD A RIGHTEOUS LIFE Therefore the nature of the human race, generated from the flesh of the one transgressor, if it is self-sufficient for fulfilling

Chapter 228

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

NATURE WAS CREATED SOUND AND WHOLE; IT WAS AFTERWARDS CORRUPTED BY SIN Man’s nature, indeed, was created at first faultless and without any sin; but that nature of man in which every one is born from Adam, now wants the

Chapter 229

CHAPTER 5 [V.]

IT WAS A MATTER OF JUSTICE THAT ALL SHOULD BE CONDEMNED The entire mass, therefore, incurs penalty and if the deserved punishment of condemnation were rendered to all, it would without doubt be righteously rendered. They

Chapter 230

CHAPTER 7 [VII.]

HE PROCEEDS TO CONFUTE THE WORK OF PELAGIUS; HE REFRAINS AS YET FROM MENTIONING PELAGIUS’ NAME However ardent, then, is the zeal which the author of the book you have forwarded to me entertains against those who find a d

Chapter 231

CHAPTER 8

A DISTINCTION DRAWN BY PELAGIUS BETWEEN THE POSSIBLE AND ACTUAL For he first of all makes a distinction: “It is one thing,” says he, “to inquire whether a thing can be, which has respect to its possibility only; and anot

Chapter 232

CHAPTER 9 [VIII.]

EVEN THEY WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO BE JUSTIFIED ARE CONDEMNED See what he has said. I, however, affirm that an infant born in a place where it was not possible for him to be admitted to the baptism of Christ, and being overt

Chapter 233

CHAPTER 10 [IX.]

HE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED, WHO HAD NOT HEARD OF THE NAME OF CHRIST; RENDERING THE CROSS OF CHRIST OF NONE EFFECT But they say: “He is not condemned; because the statement that all sinned in Adam, was not made because of

Chapter 234

CHAPTER 11 [X.]

GRACE SUBTLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY PELAGIUS -- 329 of 1177 -- He then starts an objection to his own position, as if, indeed, another person had raised it, and says: “‘A man,’ you will say, ‘may possibly be [without sin]; bu

Chapter 235

CHAPTER 12 [XI.]

-- 330 of 1177 -- IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GRACE, WE DO NOT SPEAK OF THAT WHICH RELATES TO THE CONSTITUTION OF OUR NATURE, BUT TO ITS RESTORATION I confess to your love, that when I read those words I was filled with a

Chapter 236

CHAPTER 13 [XII.]

THE SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE LAW’S THREATENINGS; “PERFECT WAYFARERS.” But before I proceed further, see what he has said. When treating the question about the difference of sins, and starting as an objection to himself,

Chapter 237

CHAPTER 14 [XIII.]

REFUTATION OF PELAGIUS But the truth is, the question which is proposed to him — “Are you even yourself without sin?” — does not really belong to the subject in dispute. What, however, he says, — that “it is rather to be

Chapter 238

CHAPTER 15 [XIV.]

NOT EVERYTHING [OF DOCTRINAL TRUTH] IS WRITTEN IN SCRIPTURE IN SO MANY WORDS That, too, which is said to him, “that it is nowhere written in so many words, A man can be without sin,” he easily refutes thus: “That the que

Chapter 239

CHAPTER 16 [XV.]

PELAGIUS CORRUPTS A PASSAGE OF THE APOSTLE JAMES BY ADDING A NOTE OF INTERROGATION Now that passage, in which the Apostle James says: “But the tongue can no man tame,” does not appear to me to be capable of the interpret

Chapter 240

CHAPTER 17 [XVI.]

EXPLANATION OF THIS TEXT CONTINUED Accordingly, after emphatically describing the evil of the tongue — saying, among other things: “My brethren, these things ought not so to be” — he at once, after finishing some remarks

Chapter 241

CHAPTER 18 [XVII.]

WHO MAY BE SAID TO BE IN THE FLESH There is a passage which nobody could place against these texts with the similar purpose of showing the impossibility of not sinning: “The wisdom of the flesh is enmity against God; for

Chapter 242

CHAPTER 19

SINS OF IGNORANCE; TO WHOM WISDOM IS GIVEN BY GOD ON THEIR REQUESTING IT He further treats of sins of ignorance, and says that “a man ought to be very careful to avoid ignorance; and that ignorance is blame-worthy for th

Chapter 243

CHAPTER 20 [XVIII.]

WHAT PRAYER PELAGIUS WOULD ADMIT TO BE NECESSARY He confesses that “sins which have been committed do notwithstanding require to be divinely expiated, and that the Lord must be entreated because of them,” — that is, for

Chapter 244

CHAPTER 21 [XIX.]

PELAGIUS DENIES THAT HUMAN NATURE HAS BEEN DEPRAVED OR CORRUPTED BY SIN You may now see (what bears very closely on our subject) how he endeavors to exhibit human nature, as if it were wholly without fault, and how he st

Chapter 245

CHAPTER 22 [XX.]

HOW OUR NATURE COULD BE VITIATED BY SIN, EVEN THOUGH IT BE NOT A SUBSTANCE Now, do you not perceive the tendency and direction of this controversy? Even to render of none effect the Scripture where it is said “Thou shalt

Chapter 246

CHAPTER 23 [XXI.]

ADAM DELIVERED BY THE MERCY OF CHRIST But observe how, by specious arguments, he continues to oppose the truth of Holy Scripture. The Lord Jesus, who is called Jesus because He saves His people from their sins, in accord

Chapter 247

CHAPTER 24 [XXII.]

SIN AND THE PENALTY OF SIN THE SAME “The very matter,” says he, “of sin is its punishment, if the sinner is so much weakened that he commits more sins.” He does not consider how justly the light of truth forsakes the man

Chapter 248

CHAPTER 25 [XXIII.]

GOD FORSAKES ONLY THOSE WHO DESERVE TO BE FORSAKEN. WE ARE SUFFICIENT OF OURSELVES TO COMMIT SIN; BUT NOT TO RETURN TO THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. DEATH IS THE PUNISHMENT, NOT THE CAUSE OF SIN Perhaps he may answer that Go

Chapter 249

CHAPTER 26 [XXIV.]

CHRIST DIED OF HIS OWN POWER AND CHOICE As to his statement, indeed, that “the Lord was able to die without sin;” His being born also was of the ability of His mercy, not the demand of His nature: so, likewise, did He un

Chapter 250

CHAPTER 27

EVEN EVILS, THROUGH GOD’S MERCY, ARE OF USE He asserts that “no evil is the cause of anything good;” as if punishment, forsooth, were good, although thereby many have been reformed. There are, then, evils which are of us

Chapter 251

CHAPTER 28 [XXV.]

THE DISPOSITION OF NEARLY ALL WHO GO ASTRAY. WITH SOME HERETICS OUR BUSINESS OUGHT NOT TO BE DISPUTATION, BUT PRAYER Man’s proud mind has no relish at all for this; God, however, is great, in persuading even it how to fi

Chapter 252

CHAPTER 29 [XXVI.]

A SIMILE TO SHOW THAT GOD’S GRACE IS NECESSARY FOR DOING ANY] GOOD WORK WHATEVER. GOD NEVER FORSAKES THE JUSTIFIED MAN IF HE BE NOT HIMSELF FORSAKEN. -- 344 of 1177 -- Observe, indeed, how cautiously he expresses himse

Chapter 253

CHAPTER 30 [XXVII.]

SIN IS REMOVED BY SIN He no doubt shows some acuteness in handling, and turning over and exposing, as he likes, and refuting a certain statement, which is made to this effect, that “it was really necessary to man, in ord

Chapter 254

CHAPTER 31

THE ORDER AND PROCESS OF HEALING OUR HEAVENLY PHYSICIAN DOES NOT ADOPT FROM THE SICK PATIENT, BUT DERIVES FROM HIMSELF. WHAT CAUSE THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE FOR FEARING “But God,” they say, “is able to heal all things.” Of cour

Chapter 255

CHAPTER 32 [XXVIII.]

GOD FORSAKES US TO SOME EXTENT THAT WE MAY NOT GROW PROUD Therefore it is not said to a man: “It necessary for you to sin that you may not sin;” but it is said to a man: “God in some degree forsakes you, in consequence o

Chapter 256

CHAPTER 33 [XXIX.]

NOT EVERY SIN IS PRIDE. HOW PRIDE IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF EVERY SIN “But how,” asks he, “shall we separate pride itself from sin?” Now, why does he raise such a question, when it is manifest that even pride itself is a si

Chapter 257

CHAPTER 34 [XXX.]

A MAN’S SIN IS HIS OWN, BUT HE NEEDS GRACE FOR HIS CURE Well, but what does he mean when he says: “Then again, how can one be subjected to God for the guilt of that sin, which he knows is not his own? For,” says he, “his

Chapter 258

CHAPTER 35 [XXXI.]

WHY GOD DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY CURE PRIDE ITSELF. THE SECRET AND INSIDIOUS GROWTH OF PRIDE. PREVENTING AND SUBSEQUENT GRACE But I would indeed so treat these topics, as to confess myself ignorant of God’s deeper counsel, w

Chapter 259

CHAPTER 36 [XXXII.]

PRIDE EVEN IN SUCH THINGS AS ARE DONE ARIGHT MUST BE AVOIDED. FREE WILL IS NOT TAKEN AWAY WHEN GRACE IS PREACHED So will He bestow on us whatever pleases Him, that if there be anything displeasing to Him in us, it will a

Chapter 260

CHAPTER 37 [XXXIII.]

BEING WHOLLY WITHOUT SIN DOES NOT PUT MAN ON AN EQUALITY WITH GOD But God forbid that we should meet him with such an assertion as he says certain persons advance against him: “That man is placed on an equality with God,

Chapter 261

CHAPTER 38 [XXXIV.]

WE MUST NOT LIE, EVEN FOR THE SAKE OF MODERATION. THE PRAISE OF HUMILITY MUST NOT BE PLACED TO THE ACCOUNT OF FALSEHOOD I am favorably disposed, indeed, to the view of our author, when he resists those who say to him, “W

Chapter 262

CHAPTER 39

PELAGIUS GLORIFIES GOD AS CREATOR AT THE EXPENSE OF GOD AS SAVIOR Beyond this, however, although he flatters himself that he vindicates the cause of God by defending nature, he forgets that by predicating soundness of th

Chapter 263

CHAPTER 40 [XXXV.]

-- 353 of 1177 -- WHY THERE IS A RECORD IN SCRIPTURE OF CERTAIN MEN’S SINS, RECKLESSNESS IN SIN ACCOUNTS IT TO BE SO MUCH LOSS WHENEVER IT FALLS SHORT IN GRATIFYING LUST He who has a sound judgment says soundly, “that t

Chapter 264

CHAPTER 41

WHETHER HOLY MEN HAVE DIED WITHOUT SIN But there is clearly much acuteness in the question put by our author,” How must we suppose that those holy men quitted this life, — with sin, or without sin?” For if we answer, “Wi

Chapter 265

CHAPTER 42 [XXXVI.]

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MAY HAVE LIVED WITHOUT SIN. NONE OF THE SAINTS BESIDES HER WITHOUT SIN He then enumerates those “who not only lived without sin, but are described as having led holy lives, — Abel, Enoch, Melchize

Chapter 266

CHAPTER 43 [XXXVII.]

WHY SCRIPTURE HAS NOT MENTIONED THE SINS OF ALL “But perhaps,” says he, “they will ask me: Could not the Scripture have mentioned sins of all of these?” And surely they would say the truth, whoever should put such a ques

Chapter 267

CHAPTER 44

PELAGIUS ARGUES THAT ABEL WAS SINLESS This, however, even he probably observed, and therefore he went on to say: “But, granted that it has sometimes abstained, in a numerous crowd, from narrating the sins of all; still,

Chapter 268

CHAPTER 45 [XXXVIII.]

WHY CAIN HAS BEEN BY SOME THOUGHT TO HAVE HAD CHILDREN BY HIS MOTHER EVE. THE SINS OF RIGHTEOUS MEN. WHO CAN BE BOTH RIGHTEOUS, AND YET NOT WITHOUT SIN When he says this, he forgets what he had himself said not long befo

Chapter 269

CHAPTER 46 [XXXIX.]

-- 358 of 1177 -- SHALL WE FOLLOW SCRIPTURE, OR ADD TO ITS DECLARATIONS? It is, to be sure, a grand sentence with which he concluded this passage, when he says: “What we read, therefore, let us believe; and what we do n

Chapter 270

CHAPTER 47 [XL.]

FOR WHAT PELAGIUS THOUGHT THAT CHRIST IS NECESSARY TO US Perhaps, however, he thinks the name of Christ to be necessary on this account, that by His gospel we may learn how we ought to live; but not that we may be also a

Chapter 271

CHAPTER 48 [XLI.]

HOW THE TERM “ALL” IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD His opponents adduced the passage, “All have sinned,” and he met their statement founded on this with the remark that “the apostle was manifestly speaking of the then existing gener

Chapter 272

CHAPTER 49 [XLII.]

A MAN CAN BE SINLESS, BUT ONLY BY THE HELP OF GRACE. IN THE SAINTS THIS POSSIBILITY ADVANCES AND KEEPS PACE WITH THE REALIZATION “Well, be it so,” says he,” I agree; he testifies to the fact that all were sinners. He say

Chapter 273

CHAPTER 50 [XLIII.]

GOD COMMANDS NO IMPOSSIBILITIES What he says, however, is true enough, “that God is as good as just, and made man such that he was quite able to live without the evil of sin, if only he had been willing.” For who does no

Chapter 274

CHAPTER 51 [XLIV.]

STATE OF THE QUESTION BETWEEN THE PELAGIANS AND THE CATHOLICS. HOLY MEN OF OLD SAVED BY THE SELF- SAME FAITH IN CHRIST WHICH WE EXERCISE -- 362 of 1177 -- But why need we tarry longer on general statements? Let us go i

Chapter 275

CHAPTER 52

THE WHOLE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT GRACE Let us, however, observe what our author answers, after laying before himself the question wherein he seems indeed so intolerable to Christian hearts. He says: “But you will tell me th

Chapter 276

CHAPTER 53 [XLV.]

PELAGIUS DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN A POWER AND ITS USE Well, are there other things to listen to? Yes, certainly; both to listen to, and correct and guard against. “Now, when it is said,” he says, “that the very ability is n

Chapter 277

CHAPTER 54 [XLVI.]

THERE IS NO INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN NECESSITY AND FREE WILL Now how does all this apply to our subject? Let us see what he makes out of it. “Whatever,” says he, “is fettered by natural necessity is deprived of determinat

Chapter 278

CHAPTER 55 [XLVII.]

THE SAME CONTINUED Mark also what follows. “We may perceive,” says he, “the same thing to be true of heating, smelling, and seeing, — that to hear, and to smell, and to see is of our own power, while the ability to hear,

Chapter 279

CHAPTER 56 [XLVIII.]

THE ASSISTANCE OF GRACE IN A PERFECT NATURE Not only, then, are these similes employed by our author false, but so is the matter which he wishes them to illustrate. He goes on to say: “In like manner, touching the possib

Chapter 280

CHAPTER 57 [XLIX.]

IT DOES NOT DETRACT FROM GOD’S ALMIGHTY POWER, THAT HE IS INCAPABLE OF EITHER SINNING, OR DYING, OR DESTROYING HIMSELF “Inasmuch,” says he, “as not to sin is ours, we are able to sin and to avoid sin.” What, then, if ano

Chapter 281

CHAPTER 58 [L.]

EVEN PIOUS AND GOD-FEARING MEN RESIST GRACE Observe also what remark he adds, by which he thinks that his position is confirmed: “No will,” says he, “can take away that which is proved to be inseparably implanted in natu

Chapter 282

CHAPTER 59 [LI.]

IN WHAT SENSE PELAGIUS ATTRIBUTED TO GOD’S GRACE THE CAPACITY OF NOT SINNING -- 368 of 1177 -- In order, however, to escape from the odium wherewith Christians guard their salvation, he parries their question when they

Chapter 283

CHAPTER 60 [LII.]

PELAGIUS ADMITS “CONTRARY FLESH” IN THE UNBAPTIZED See what obstacles he still attempts to break through, if possible, in order to introduce his own opinion. He raises a question for himself in these terms: “But you will

Chapter 284

CHAPTER 61 [LIII.]

PAUL ASSERTS THAT THE FLESH IS CONTRARY EVEN IN THE BAPTIZED Now let us see whether we anywhere read about the flesh being contrary in the baptized also. And here, I ask, to whom did the apostle say, “The flesh -- 370 o

Chapter 285

CHAPTER 62

CONCERNING WHAT GRACE OF GOD IS HERE UNDER DISCUSSION. THE UNGODLY MAN, WHEN DYING, IS NOT DELIVERED FROM CONCUPISCENCE Now, whereas it is most correctly asked in those words put to him, “Why do you affirm that man witho

Chapter 286

CHAPTER 63 [LIV.]

DOES GOD CREATE CONTRARIES? He next endeavors, by much quotation from the apostle, about which there is no controversy, to show “that the flesh is often mentioned by him in such a manner as proves him to mean not the sub

Chapter 287

CHAPTER 64

PELAGIUS’ ADMISSION AS REGARDS THE UNBAPTIZED, FATAL Now, as touching these two good substances which the good God created, how, against the reasoning of this man, in the case of unbaptized persons, can they be contrary

Chapter 288

CHAPTER 65 [LV.]

-- 374 of 1177 -- “THIS BODY OF DEATH,” SO CALLED FROM ITS DEFECT, NOT FROM ITS SUBSTANCE Now, I ask, when did our nature lose that liberty, which he craves to be given to him when he says: “Who shall liberate me?” For

Chapter 289

CHAPTER 66

THE WORKS, NOT THE SUBSTANCE, OF THE “FLESH” OPPOSED TO THE “SPIRIT.” Now if we secure even this concession from them, that unbaptized persons may implore the assistance of the Savior’s grace, this is indeed no slight po

Chapter 290

CHAPTER 67 [LVII.]

WHO MAY BE SAID TO BE UNDER THE LAW But even our author should observe that it is to persons who have been already baptized that it was said: “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, so th

Chapter 291

CHAPTER 68 [LVIII.]

DESPITE THE DEVIL, MAN MAY, BY GOD’S HELP, BE PERFECTED If, therefore, we feel rightly on this matter, it is our duty at once to be thankful for what is already healed within us, and to pray for such further healing as s

Chapter 292

CHAPTER 69 [LIX.]

PELAGIUS PUTS NATURE IN THE PLACE OF GRACE In opposition, however, to those who ask, “And who would be unwilling to be without sin, if it were put in the power of a man?” he tightly contends, saying “that by this very qu

Chapter 293

CHAPTER 70 [LX.]

-- 378 of 1177 -- WHETHER ANY MAN IS WITH OUT SIN IN THIS LIFE Now, whether there ever has been, or is, or ever can be, a man living so righteous a life in this world as to have no sin at all, may be an open question am

Chapter 294

CHAPTER 71 [LXI.]

AUGUSTIN REPLIES AGAINST THE QUOTATIONS WHICH PELAGIUS HAD ADVANCED OUT OF THE CATHOLIC WRITERS. LACTANTIUS Accordingly, with respect also to the passages which he has adduced, — not indeed from the canonical Scriptures,

Chapter 295

CHAPTER 72 [LXI.]

HILARY. THE PURE IN HEART BLESSED. THE DOING AND PERFECTING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS He quotes the following words from the blessed Hilary: “It is only when we shall be perfect in spirit and changed in our immortal state, which

Chapter 296

CHAPTER 73

HE MEETS PELAGIUS WITH ANOTHER PASSAGE FROM HILARY Now even Job himself is not silent respecting his own sins; and your friend, of course, is justly of opinion that humility must not by any means “be put on the side of f

Chapter 297

CHAPTER 74 [LXIII.]

AMBROSE St. Ambrose, however, really opposes those who say that man cannot exist without sin in the present life. For, in order to support his statement, he avails himself of the instance of Zacharias and Elisabeth, beca

Chapter 298

CHAPTER 75

AUGUSTIN ADDUCES IN REPLY SOME OTHER PASSAGES OF AMBROSE I, too, will quote a passage out of this very work of St. Ambrose, from which our opponent has taken the statement which he deemed favorable for citation: “‘ It se

Chapter 299

CHAPTER 76 [LXIV.]

JOHN OF CONSTANTINOPLE He quotes also John, bishop of Constantinople, as saying “that sin is not a substance, but a wicked act.” Who denies this? “And because it is not natural, therefore the law was given against it, an

Chapter 300

CHAPTER 77

XYSTUS What Christian, again, is unaware of what he quotes the most blessed Xystus, bishop of Rome and martyr of Christ, as having said, “God has conferred upon men liberty of their own will, in order that by purity and

Chapter 301

CHAPTER 78 [LXV.]

JEROME We have next a quotation of some words of the venerable presbyter Jerome, from his exposition of the passage where it is written: “ ‘Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.’ These are they whom no c

Chapter 302

CHAPTER 79 [LXVI.]

A CERTAIN NECESSITY OF SINNING But let us revert to the apostle’s assertion: “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” By whom given if not by Him who “ascended up on high,

Chapter 303

CHAPTER 80 [LXVII.]

AUGUSTIN HIMSELF. TWO METHODS WHEREBY SINS, LIKE DISEASES, ARE GUARDED AGAINST Let us now turn to our own case. “Bishop Augustin also,” says your author, “in his books on Free Will has these words: ‘ Whatever the cause i

Chapter 304

CHAPTER 81

AUGUSTIN QUOTES HIMSELF ON FREE WILL In order, however, that my meaning on this subject may be dear not merely to him, but also to such persons as have not read those treatises of mine on Free Will, which your author has

Chapter 305

CHAPTER 82 [LXVIII.]

HOW TO EXHORT MEN TO FAITH, REPENTANCE, AND ADVANCEMENT If, therefore, we wish “to rouse and kindle cold and sluggish souls by Christian exhortations to lead righteous lives,” we must first of all exhort them to that fai

Chapter 306

CHAPTER 83 [LXIX.]

GOD ENJOINS NO IMPOSSIBILITY, BECAUSE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE AND EASY TO LOVE But “the precepts of the law are very good,” if we use them lawfully. Indeed, by the very fact (of which we have the firmest conviction) “tha

Chapter 307

CHAPTER 84 [LXX.]

THE DEGREES OF LOVE ARE ALSO DEGREES OF HOLINESS Inchoate love, therefore, is inchoate holiness; advanced love is advanced holiness; great love is great holiness; “perfect love is perfect holiness,” — but this “love is o

Chapter 308

CHAPTER 1

-- 396 of 1177 -- Y OUR love, which in both of you is so great and so holy that it is a delight to obey its commands, has laid me under an obligation to reply to some definitions which are said to be the work of Coelest

Chapter 309

CHAPTER 2

(1.) THE FIRST BREVIATE OF COELESTIUS 1. “First of all,” says he, “he must be asked who denies man’s ability to live without sin, what: every sort of sin is, — is it such as can be avoided? or is it unavoidable? If it is

Chapter 310

CHAPTER 3

(5.) THE FIFTH BREVIATE 5. “We must again,” he says, “inquire whether a man ought to be without sin. Beyond doubt he ought. If he ought, he is able; if he is not able, then he ought not. Now if a man ought not to be with

Chapter 311

CHAPTER 4

(9.) THE NINTH BREVIATE 9. “The next question we shall require to be solved,” says he, “is this: By what means is it brought about that man is with sin? — by the necessity of nature, or by the freedom of choice? If it is

Chapter 312

CHAPTER 5

(1.1.) THE ELEVENTH BREVIATE. 11. “The next question which must be put,” he says, “is, in how many ways all sin is manifested? In two, if I mistake not: if either those things are done which are forbidden, or those thing

Chapter 313

CHAPTER 6

(1.2.) THE TWELFTH BREVIATE. 12. “Again the question arises,” he says, “how it is that man is unable to be without sin, — by his will, or by nature? If by nature, it is not sin; if by his will, then will can very easily

Chapter 314

16. After all these disputations, their author introduces himself in person as

arguing with another, and represents himself as under examination, and as being addressed by his examiner: “Show me the man who is without sin.” He answers: “I show you one who is able to be without sin.” His examiner th

Chapter 315

CHAPTER 8

(1 .7.) IT IS ONE THING TO DEPART FROM THE BODY, ANOTHER THING TO BE LIBERATED FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH He next proposes to establish his point by the testimony of Holy Scripture. Let us carefully observe what kind of

Chapter 316

CHAPTER 9

(2.0.) WHO MAY BE SAID TO WALK WITHOUT SPOT; DAMNABLE AND VENIAL SINS Having premised these remarks, let us carefully attend to the passages which he whom we are answering has produced, as if we ourselves had quoted them

Chapter 317

CHAPTER 10

(2 .1.) TO WHOM GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE GRIEVOUS; AND TO WHOM, NOT. WHY SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS; A COMMANDMENT IS A PROOF OF THE FREEDOM OF MAN’S WILL; PRAYER IS A PROOF OF GRACE. He next q

Chapter 318

CHAPTER 11

(2 .3.) PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE WHICH, WHEN OBJECTED AGAINST HIM BY THE CATHOLICS, COELESTIUS -- 413 of 1177 -- ENDEAVORS TO ELUDE BY OTHER PASSAGES: THE FIRST PASSAGE After this he adduced the passages which are usually

Chapter 319

CHAPTER 12

(2.9.) THE SECOND PASSAGE. WHO MAY BE SAID TO ABSTAIN FROM EVERY EVIL THING “They are in the habit of next quoting,” says he, “the passage: ‘Every man is a liar.’” But here again he offers no solution of words which are

Chapter 320

CHAPTER 13

(3 .1.) THE THIRD PASSAGE. IT IS ONE THING TO DEPART, AND ANOTHER THING TO HAVE DEPARTED, FROM ALL SIN. “THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD,” OF WHOM THIS IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD He has likewise propounded another question, as we

Chapter 321

CHAPTER 16

(3.7.) THE SIXTH PASSAGE He has also adduced this passage of Scripture, which is very commonly quoted against his party: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” And he makes a pretense

Chapter 322

CHAPTER 17

(3 .8.) THE SEVENTH PASSAGE. WHO MAY BE CALLED IMMACULATE. HOW IT IS THAT IN GOD’S SIGHT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED -- 425 of 1177 -- “They also, says he, “quote the text: “For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.’”

Chapter 323

CHAPTER 18

(3 .9.) THE EIGHTH PASSAGE. IN WHAT SENSE HE IS SAID NOT TO SIN WHO IS BORN OF GOD. IN WHAT WAY HE WHO SINS SHALL NOT SEE NOR KNOW GOD “They also quote,” says he, “this passage, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive

Chapter 324

CHAPTER 19

(4.0.) THE NINTH PASSAGE “This passage, too,” says he, “is quoted by them: ‘It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.’” And he observes that the answer to be given to them is

Chapter 325

CHAPTER 20

(4.3.) NO MAN IS ASSISTED UNLESS HE DOES HIMSELF ALSO WORK. OUR COURSE IS A CONSTANT PROGRESS But what is the import of the last statement which he has made: “If any one say, ‘May it possibly be that a man sin not even i

Chapter 326

CHAPTER 21

(4 .4.) CONCLUSION OF THE WORK. IN THE REGENERATE IT IS NOT CONCUPISCENCE, BUT CONSENT, WHICH IS SIN Whosoever, then, supposes that any man or any men (except the one Mediator between God and man) have ever lived, or are

Chapter 327

BOOK II. CHAP. 45,

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE, “DE GESTIS PELAGII.” A BOUT the same time, in the East (that is to say, in Palestinian Syria), Pelagius was summoned by certain catholic brethren before a tribunal of bishops, and was heard on

Chapter 328

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION A FTER there came into my hands, holy father Aurelius, the ecclesiastical proceedings, by which fourteen bishops of the province of Palestine pronounced Pelagius a catholic, my hesitation, in which I was pre

Chapter 329

CHAPTER 2 [I.]

THE FIRST ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION, AND PELAGIUS’ ANSWER First of all, then, I offer to the Lord my God, who is also my defense and guide, unspeakable thanks, because I was not misled in my views respecting our holy brethr

Chapter 330

CHAPTER 3

DISCUSSION OF PELAGIUS’ FIRST ANSWER Now to say that “a man is by the knowledge of the law assisted towards not sinning,” is a different assertion from saying that “a man cannot be without sin unless he has acquired a kn

Chapter 331

CHAPTER 4 [II.]

THE SAME CONTINUED If Pelagius, as he possibly might, were to say in reply to this, that that very thing was what he meant by “the knowledge of the law, without which a man is unable to be free from sins,” which is commu

Chapter 332

CHAPTER 5 [III.]

-- 443 of 1177 -- THE SECOND ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION; AND PELAGIUS’ ANSWER The synod of bishops then proceeded to say: “Let another section be read.” Accordingly there was read the passage in the same book wherein Pelagi

Chapter 333

CHAPTER 7

THE SAME CONTINUED As for the passage from the psalm, “He loved cursing, and it shall come upon him; and he willed not blessing, so it shall be far removed from him,” which he quoted in the same book of Chapters, as if t

Chapter 334

CHAPTER 9

THE THIRD ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION; AND PELAGIUS’ ANSWER Another statement was read which Pelagius had placed in his book, to this effect: “In the day of judgment no forbearance will be shown to the ungodly and the sinners

Chapter 335

CHAPTER 10

PELAGIUS’ ANSWER EXAMINED. ON ORIGEN’S ERROR CONCERNING THE NON-ETERNITY OF THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DEVIL AND THE DAMNED But what Pelagius added, “Who believes differently is an Origenist,” was approved by the judges, beca

Chapter 336

CHAPTER 11

THE SAME CONTINUED But how this judgment is to be accomplished, it is not easy to understand from Holy Scripture; for there are many modes therein of describing that which is to come to pass only in one mode, In one plac

Chapter 337

CHAPTER 12 [IV.]

THE FOURTH ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION; AND PELAGIUS’ ANSWER It was further objected against Pelagius, as if he had written in his book, that “evil does not enter our thoughts.” In reply, however, to this charge, he said: “We

Chapter 338

CHAPTER 13 [V.]

THE FIFTH ITEM OF THE ACCUSATION; AND PELAGIUS’ ANSWER After the judges had accorded their approbation to this answer of Pelagius, another passage which he had written in his book was read aloud: “The kingdom of heaven w

Chapter 339

CHAPTER 14

EXAMINATION OF THIS POINT. THE PHRASE “OLD TESTAMENT” USED IN TWO SENSES. THE HEIR OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THERE WERE HEIRS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT Was it therefore without reason that our brethren were m

Chapter 340

CHAPTER 15

THE SAME CONTINUED How then should there not be a feeling of just disquietude entertained by the children of promise, children of the free Jerusalem, which is eternal in the heavens, when they see that by the words of Pe

Chapter 341

CHAPTER 16 [VI.]

THE SIXTH ITEM OF THE ACCUSATION, AND PELAGIUS’ REPLY The next objection was to the effect that Pelagius in that same book of his wrote thus “A man is able, if he likes, to be without sin;” and that writing to a certain

Chapter 342

CHAPTER 17

EXAMINATION OF THE SIXTH CHARGE AND ANSWERS Well, now, had the judges either the power or the right to condemn these unrecognized and vague words, when no person on the other side was present to assert that Pelagius had

Chapter 343

CHAPTER 18

THE SAME CONTINUED But perhaps the point requires some consideration, whether he was right in saying that “such as held the opinions in question deserved anathema, not as heretics, but as fools, since it was no dogma.” T

Chapter 344

CHAPTER 19

-- 457 of 1177 -- THE SAME CONTINUED Now it so happened that, while we were reading this defense of Pelagius in the small paper which we received at first, there were present certain holy brethren, who said that they ha

Chapter 345

CHAPTER 20

THE SAME CONTINUED. PELAGIUS ACKNOWLEDGES THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE IN DECEPTIVE TERMS There can be no doubt that what Pelagius has acknowledged as his own is as yet very obscure. I suppose, however, that it will become appa

Chapter 346

CHAPTER 21 [VIII.]

THE SAME CONTINUED It is not nature, therefore, which, sold as it is under sin and wounded by the offense, longs for a Redeemer and Savior; nor is it the knowledge of the law — through which comes the discovery, not the

Chapter 347

CHAPTER 21 [IX.]

THE SAME CONTINUED This grace is not dying nature, nor the slaying letter, but the vivifying spirit; for already did he possess nature with freedom of will, because he said: “To will is present with me.” Nature, however,

Chapter 348

CHAPTER 22 [X.]

THE SAME CONTINUED. THE SYNOD SUPPOSED THAT THE GRACE ACKNOWLEDGED BY PELAGIUS WAS THAT WHICH -- 460 of 1177 -- WAS SO THOROUGHLY KNOWN TO THE CHURCH This grace, then, which was most completely known in the catholic Ch

Chapter 349

CHAPTER 23 [XI.]

THE SEVENTH ITEM OF THE ACCUSATION: THE BREVIATES OF COELESTIUS OBJECTED TO PELAGIUS Then follow sundry statements charged against Pelagius, which are said to be found among the opinions of his disciple Coelestius: how t

Chapter 350

CHAPTER 24

PELAGIUS’ ANSWER TO THE CHARGES BROUGHT TOGETHER UNDER THE SEVENTH ITEM The following, as the proceedings testify, was Pelagius’ own answer to these charges against him: “Concerning a man’s being able indeed to be withou

Chapter 351

CHAPTER 25

THE PELAGIANS FALSELY PRETENDED THAT THE EASTERN CHURCHES WERE ON THEIR SIDE Now, by reason of these questions, and the very contentious assertions of these tenets, which are everywhere accompanied with heated feelings,

Chapter 352

CHAPTER 26

THE ACCUSATIONS IN THE SEVENTH ITEM, WHICH PILLAGES CONFESSED Let us now see what were the two points out of all that were alleged which Pillages was unwilling to anathematize, and admitted to be his own opinions, but to

Chapter 353

CHAPTER 27 [XII.]

THE EIGHTH ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION Pelagius was charged with having said: “That the Church here is without spot or wrinkle.” It was on this point that the Donatists also were constantly at conflict with us in our conferen

Chapter 354

CHAPTER 28

PELAGIUS’ REPLY TO THE EIGHTH ITEM OF ACCUSATION But to this objection he replied with a watchful caution such as the catholic judges no doubt approved. “It has,” says he, “been asserted by me, — but in -- 466 of 1177 -

Chapter 355

CHAPTER 29 [XIII.]

-- 467 of 1177 -- THE NINTH ITEM OF THE ACCUSATION; AND PELAGIUS’ REPLY The next objections were urged out of the book of Coelestius, following the contents of each several chapter, but rather according to the sense tha

Chapter 356

CHAPTER 30 [XIV.]

THE TENTH ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION. THE MORE PROMINENT POINTS OF COELESTIUS’ WORK CONTINUED After this we find objected against Pelagius some other points of Coelestius’ teaching, — prominent ones, and undoubtedly worthy o

Chapter 357

CHAPTER 31

REMARKS ON THE TENTH ITEM I shall make my next remark with greater satisfaction. In a former section I expressed a fear that, when Pelagius said that “a man was able by the help of God’s grace to live without sin,” he pe

Chapter 358

CHAPTER 32

THE ELEVENTH ITEM OF THE ACCUSATION But what comes afterwards again fills me with anxiety. On its being objected to him, from the fifth chapter of Coelestius’ book, that “ they say that every individual has the ability t

Chapter 359

CHAPTER 33

DISCUSSION OF THE ELEVENTH ITEM CONTINUED What, then, is the reason why, as I said just now, I felt anxious on the subject of this head of his doctrine? It is occasioned by what Pelagius says in these words: “That God gi

Chapter 360

CHAPTER 34

THE SAME CONTINUED. ON THE WORKS OF UNBELIEVERS; FAITH IS THE INITIAL PRINCIPLE FROM WHICH GOOD WORKS HAVE THEIR BEGINNING; FAITH IS THE GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE He will perhaps say to this: “It was not because of his works,

Chapter 361

CHAPTER 35

THE SAME CONTINUED “What, then, is the meaning of that which the same apostle says: ‘ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousn

Chapter 362

CHAPTER 36

THE SAME CONTINUED. THE MONK PELAGIUS. GRACE IS CONFERRED ON THE UNWORTHY His due reward, therefore, is recompensed to the apostle as worthy of it; but still it was grace which bestowed on him the apostleship itself, whi

Chapter 363

CHAPTER 37

THE SAME CONTINUED. JOHN, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM, AND HIS EXAMINATION With great propriety, as the proceedings show, did John, the holy overseer of the Church of Jerusalem, employ the authority of this same passage of the a

Chapter 364

CHAPTER 38 [XV.]

THE SAME CONTINUED Bishop John narrated all this in the hearing of Pelagius; but he, of course, might respectfully say: “Your holiness is in error; you do not accurately remember the facts. It was not in reference to the

Chapter 365

CHAPTER 39 [XVI.]

THE SAME CONTINUED. HEROS AND LAZARUS; OROSIUS Now there are some expositions of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans which are said to have been written by Pelagius himself, — in which he asserts, that the passage: “Not of him

Chapter 366

CHAPTER 40 [XVII.]

THE SAME CONTINUED Since, then, Pelagius was present when these passages of the Scriptures were discussed, and by his silence acknowledged having said that he entertained the same view of their meaning, how happens it, t

Chapter 367

CHAPTER 41

AUGUSTIN INDULGENTLY SHOWS THAT THE JUDGES ACTED INCAUTIOUSLY IN THEIR OFFICIAL CONDUCT OF THE CASE OF PELAGIUS -- 480 of 1177 -- Why, then (some one will say), did the judges approve of this? I confess that I hardly e

Chapter 368

CHAPTER 42 [XVIII.]

THE TWELFTH ITEM IN THE ACCUSATION. OTHER HEADS OF COELESTIUS’ DOCTRINE ABJURED BY PELAGIUS For it was objected that in the sixth chapter of Coelestius’ work there was laid down this position: “Men cannot be called sons

Chapter 369

CHAPTER 43 [XIX.]

THE ANSWER OF THE MONK PELAGIUS AND HIS PROFESSION OF FAITH After all these sentences were read out, the synod said: “What says the monk Pelagius to all these heads of opinion which have been read in his presence? For th

Chapter 370

CHAPTER 44 [XX.]

THE ACQUITTAL OF PELAGIUS The synod said: “Now since we have received satisfaction on the points which have come before us touching the monk Pelagius, who has been present; since, too, he gives his consent to the pious d

Chapter 371

CHAPTER 45 [XXI.]

PELAGIUS’ ACQUITTAL BECOMES SUSPECTED If these are the proceedings by which Pelagius’ friends rejoice that he was exculpated, we, on our part, — since he certainly took much pains to prove that we were well affected towa

Chapter 372

CHAPTER 46 [XXII.]

HOW PELAGIUS BECAME KNOWN TO AUGUSTIN; COELESTIUS CONDEMNED AT CARTHAGE Now, that I may especially refer to my own relation to him, I first became acquainted with Pelagius’ name, along with great praise of him, at a

Chapter 373

CHAPTER 47 [XXIII.]

PELAGIUS’ BOOK, WHICH WAS SENT BY TIMASIUS AND JACOBUS TO AUGUSTIN, WAS ANSWERED BY THE LATTER IN HIS WORK “ON NATURE AND GRACE.” But when there was actually placed in my hands, by those faithful servants of God and hono

Chapter 374

CHAPTER 48 [XXIV.]

A LETTER WRITTEN BY TIMASIUS AND JACOBUS TO AUGUSTIN ON RECEIVING HIS TREATISE “ON NATURE AND GRACE.” “To his lordship, the truly blessed and deservedly venerable father, Bishop Augustin, Timasius and Jacobus send greeti

Chapter 375

CHAPTER 49 [XXV.]

PELAGIUS’ BEHAVIOR CONTRASTED WITH THAT OF THE WRITERS OF THE LETTER If now that man, too, were to confess that he had once been implicated in this error as a person possessed, but that he now anathematized all that hold

Chapter 376

CHAPTER 50

-- 487 of 1177 -- PELAGIUS HAS NO GOOD REASON TO BE ANNOYED IF HIS NAME BE AT LAST USED IN THE CONTROVERSY, AND HE BE EXPRESSLY REFUTED But now if Pelagius thinks of God, if he is not ungrateful for His mercy in having

Chapter 377

CHAPTER 51 [XXVI.]

THE NATURE OF AUGUSTIN’S LETTER TO PELAGIUS For my own part, indeed, in my letter which he produced, I not only abstained from all praises of him, but I even exhorted him, with as much earnestness as I could, short of ac

Chapter 378

CHAPTER 52 [XXVII. AND XXVIII.]

THE TEXT OF THE LETTER “To my most beloved lord, and most longed for brother Pelagius, Augustin sends greeting in the Lord. I thank you very much for the pleasure you have kindly afforded me by your letter, and for infor

Chapter 379

CHAPTER 53 [XXIX.]

PELAGIUS’ USE OF RECOMMENDATIONS As to that which I placed in the postscript, — that he might “find favor with the Lord,” — I intimated that this lay rather in His grace than in man’s sole will; for I did not make it the

Chapter 380

CHAPTER 54 [XXX.]

ON THE LETTER OF PELAGIUS, IN WHICH HE BOASTS THAT HIS ERRORS HAD BEEN APPROVED BY FOURTEEN BISHOPS For I will not be silent as to the transactions which took place after this trial, and which rather augment the suspicio

Chapter 381

CHAPTER 55

PELAGIUS’ LETTER DISCUSSED What, then, is the meaning of those vaunting words of theirs in this epistle, wherein they boast of having induced the fourteen bishops who sat in that trial to believe not merely that a man ha

Chapter 382

CHAPTER 56 [XXXI.]

IS PELAGIUS SINCERE? How, then, can it be believed that Pelagius (if indeed this epistle is his) could have been sincere, when he acknowledged the grace of God, which is not nature with its free will, nor the knowledge o

Chapter 383

CHAPTER 57 [XXXII.]

FRAUDULENT PRACTICES PURSUED BY PELAGIUS IN HIS REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN PALESTINE, IN THE PAPER WHEREIN HE DEFENDED HIMSELF TO AUGUSTIN There is yet another point which I must not pass over in silence. In the paper

Chapter 384

CHAPTER 58

THE SAME CONTINUED He has, moreover, in this same paper, huddled together afterwards many of the points which were objected against him out of the “Chapters,” of Coelestius’ book; nor has he kept distinct, at the interva

Chapter 385

CHAPTER 59 [XXXIV.]

ALTHOUGH PELAGIUS WAS ACQUITTED, HIS HERESY WAS CONDEMNED -- 497 of 1177 -- Now, with respect to this treatise of mine, which perhaps is not unreasonably lengthy, considering the importance and extent of its subject, I

Chapter 386

CHAPTER 60 [XXXV.]

THE SYNOD’S CONDEMNATION OF HIS DOCTRINES This is the concluding clause of their judgment. The synod said: “Now forasmuch as we have received satisfaction in these inquiries from the monk Pelagius, who has been present,

Chapter 387

CHAPTER 61

HISTORY OF THE PELAGIAN HERESY, THE PELAGIAN HERESY WAS RAISED BY SUNDRY PERSONS WHO AFFECTED THE MONASTIC STATE Since it was necessary that the Apostle Paul’s prediction should be accomplished, — “ There must be also he

Chapter 388

CHAPTER 62

THE HISTORY CONTINUED. COELESTIUS CONDEMNED AT CARTHAGE BY EPISCOPAL JUDGMENT. PELAGIUS ACQUITTED BY BISHOPS IN PALESTINE, IN CONSEQUENCE OF HIS DECEPTIVE ANSWERS; BUT YET HIS HERESY WAS CONDEMNED BY THEM After this

Chapter 389

CHAPTER 63

THE SAME CONTINUED. THE DOGMAS OF COELESTIUS LAID TO THE CHARGE OF PELAGIUS, AS HIS MASTER, AND CONDEMNED Of the opinions which Coelestius has said or written, and which were objected against Pelagius, on the ground that

Chapter 390

CHAPTER 66

THE HARSH MEASURES OF THE PELAGIANS AGAINST THE HOLY MONKS AND NUNS WHO BELONGED TO JEROME’S CHARGE Certain followers of Pelagius are said to have carried their support of his cause after these judicial proceedings to an

Chapter 391

CHAPTER 50

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE “DE GRATIA CHRISTI, ET DE PECCATO ORIGINALI.” “A FTER the conviction and condemnation of the Pelagian heresy with its authors by the bishops of the Church of Rome, — first Innocent, and then Zos

Chapter 392

BOOK I

ON THE GRACE OF CHRIST WHEREIN HE SHOWS THAT PELAGIUS IS DISINGENUOUS IN HIS CONFESSION OF GRACE, INASMUCH AS HE PLACES GRACE EITHER IN NATURE AND FREE WILL, OR IN LAW AND TEACHING; AND, MOREOVER, ASSERTS THAT IT IS MERE

Chapter 393

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

INTRODUCTORY How greatly we rejoice on account of your bodily, and, above all, your spiritual welfare, my most sincerely attached brethren and beloved of God, Albina, Pinianus, and Melania, we cannot express in words; we

Chapter 394

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER OF PELAGIUS’ CONFESSION AS TO THE NECESSITY OF GRACE FOR EVERY SINGLE ACT OF OURS You informed me in your letter, that you had entreated Pelagius to express in writing his condemnation of all that ha

Chapter 395

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

GRACE ACCORDING TO THE PELAGIANS But why should we wonder at this? For the same Pelagius, who in the Proceedings of the episcopal synod unhesitatingly condemned those who say “that God’s grace and assistance are not give

Chapter 396

CHAPTER 4

PELAGIUS’ SYSTEM OF FACULTIES In his system, he posits and distinguishes three faculties, by which he says God’s commandments are fulfilled, — capacity, volition, and action: meaning by “capacity,” that by which a man is

Chapter 397

CHAPTER 5 [IV.]

PELAGIUS’ OWN ACCOUNT OF THE FACULTIES, QUOTED Lest, however, it should chance to be said that we either do not correctly understand what he advances, or malevolently pervert to another meaning what he never meant to bea

Chapter 398

CHAPTER 6 [V.]

PELAGIUS AND PAUL OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS The whole of this dogma of Pelagius, observe, is carefully expressed in these words, and none other, in the third book of his treatise in defence of the liberty of the will, in whi

Chapter 399

CHAPTER 7 [VI.]

PELAGIUS POSITS GOD’S AID ONLY FOR OUR “CAPACITY.” Let not Pelagius, however, in this way deceive incautious and simple persons, or even himself; for after saying,” Man is therefore to be praised for his willing and doin

Chapter 400

CHAPTER 8

GRACE, ACCORDING TO THE PELAGIANS, CONSISTS IN THE INTERNAL AND MANIFOLD ILLUMINATION OF THE MIND As to this natural capacity which, he allows, is assisted by the grace of God, it is by no means clear from the passage ei

Chapter 401

CHAPTER 9 [VIII.]

THE LAW ONE THING, GRACE ANOTHER. THE UTILITY OF THE LAW Hence, then, it is clear that he acknowledges that grace whereby God points out and reveals to us what we are bound to do; but not that whereby He endows and assis

Chapter 402

CHAPTER 10 [IX.]

WHAT PURPOSE THE LAW SUBSERVES What object, then, can this man gain by accounting the law and the teaching to be the grace whereby we are helped to work righteousness? For, in order that it may help much, it must help us

Chapter 403

CHAPTER 11 [X.]

PELAGIUS’ DEFINITION OF HOW GOD HELPS US: “HE PROMISES US FUTURE GLORY.” For in another passage, after asserting at length that it is not by the help of God, but out of our own selves, that a good will is formed within u

Chapter 404

CHAPTER 12 [XI.]

THE SAME CONTINUED: “HE REVEALS WISDOM.” But what shall I say about the revelation of wisdom? For there is no man who can in the present life very well hope to attain to the great revelations which were given to the Apos

Chapter 405

CHAPTER 13 [XII.]

GRACE CAUSES US TO DO To him, therefore, who is reluctant to endure the troublesome process, whereby this vaunting disposition is restrained, before he attains to the ultimate and highest perfection of charity, it is mos

Chapter 406

CHAPTER 14 [XII.]

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD, AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF THE LAW If this grace is to be called “teaching,” let it at any rate be so called in such wise that God may be believed to infuse it, along with an ine

Chapter 407

CHAPTER 15 [XIV.]

-- 520 of 1177 -- HE WHO HAS BEEN TAUGHT BY GRACE ACTUALLY COMES TO CHRIST Now as touching this kind of teaching, the Lord also says: “Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” Of the m

Chapter 408

CHAPTER 16 [XV.]

WE NEED DIVINE AID IN THE USE OF OUR POWERS. ILLUSTRATION FROM SIGHT Now what is the use of his examples, if they do not really accomplish his own promise of making his meaning clearer to us; not, indeed, that we are bou

Chapter 409

CHAPTER 17 [XVI.]

DOES PELAGIUS DESIGNEDLY REFRAIN FROM OPENLY SAYING THAT ALL GOOD ACTION IS FROM GOD? “That we are able to speak,” says he, “is of God; but that we make a good or a bad use of speech is of ourselves.” He, however, who ha

Chapter 410

CHAPTER 18 [XVII.]

HE DISCOVERS THE REASON OF PELAGIUS’ HESITATION SO TO SAY For, when wishing to point out why this lies within our own competency, he says: “Because we are able to turn all these actions into evil.” This, then, was the re

Chapter 411

CHAPTER 19 [XVIII.]

THE TWO ROOTS OF ACTION, LOVE AND CUPIDITY; AND EACH BRINGS FORTH ITS OWN FRUIT Concerning this “capacity,” Pelagius thus writes in the first book of his Defense of Free Will: “Now,” says he, “we have implanted in us by

Chapter 412

CHAPTER 20 [XIX.]

HOW A MAN MAKES A GOOD OR A BAD TREE Now a man makes a good tree when he receives the grace of God. For it is not by himself that he makes himself good instead of evil; but it is of Him, and through Him, and in Him who i

Chapter 413

CHAPTER 21 [XX.]

LOVE THE ROOT OF ALL GOOD THINGS; CUPIDITY, OF ALL EVIL ONES The “capacity,” then, of which we speak is not (as he supposes) the one identical root both of good things and evil. For the love which is the root of good thi

Chapter 414

CHAPTER 22 [XXI.]

LOVE IS A GOOD WILL That love, however, which is a virtue, comes to us from God, not from ourselves, according to the testimony of Scripture, which says: “Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and kno

Chapter 415

CHAPTER 23 [XXII.]

PELAGIUS’ DOUBLE DEALING CONCERNING THE GROUND OF THE CONFERRENCE OF GRACE Perhaps, however, our own antecedent merits caused this gift to be bestowed upon us; as this writer has already suggested in reference to God’s g

Chapter 416

CHAPTER 24

PELAGIUS PLACES FREE WILL AT THE BASIS OF ALL TURNING TO GOD FOR GRACE But perhaps he may meet us with this rejoinder, that in the sentence before us he spoke of our “meriting the divine grace by doing the will of God,”

Chapter 417

CHAPTER 25 [XXIV.]

GOD BY HIS WONDERFUL POWER WORKS IN OUR HEARTS GOOD DISPOSITIONS OF OUR WILL Now I want him to tell us whether that king of Assyria, whose holy wife Esther “abhorred his bed,” whilst sitting upon the throne of his kingdo

Chapter 418

CHAPTER 26 [XXV.]

THE PELAGIAN GRACE OF “CAPACITY” EXPLODED. THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES THE NEED OF GOD’S HELP IN DOING, SPEAKING, AND THINKING, ALIKE Let Pelagius, therefore, cease at last to deceive both himself and others by his disputation

Chapter 419

CHAPTER 27 [XXVI.]

WHAT TRUE GRACE IS, AND WHEREFORE GIVEN. MERITS DO NOT PRECEDE GRACE Now even Pelagius should frankly confess that this grace is plainly set forth in the inspired Scriptures; nor should he with shameless effrontery hide

Chapter 420

CHAPTER 28 [XXVII.]

-- 531 of 1177 -- PELAGIUS TEACHES THAT SATAN MAY BE RESISTED WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE GRACE OF GOD In the book which he addressed to a certain holy virgin, there is a passage which I have already mentioned, wherein he p

Chapter 421

CHAPTER 29 [XXVIII.]

WHEN HE SPEAKS OF GOD’S HELP, HE MEANS IT ONLY TO HELP US DO WHAT WITHOUT IT WE STILL COULD DO Again, in the first book of his Defense of the Freedom of the Will, he says: “But while we have within us a free will so stro

Chapter 422

CHAPTER 30 [XXIX.]

WHAT PELAGIUS THINKS IS NEEDFUL FOR EASE OF PERFORMANCE IS REALLY NECESSARY FOR THE PERFORMANCE -- 532 of 1177 -- In like manner, in another passage of the same book, he says: “In order that men may more easily ac

Chapter 423

CHAPTER 31 [XXX.]

PELAGIUS AND COELESTIUS NOWHERE REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE GRACE Let him amend all this, that if human infirmity has erred in subjects so profound, he may not add to the error diabolical deception and willfulness, either by

Chapter 424

CHAPTER 32

WHY THE PELAGIANS DEEMED PRAYERS TO BE NECESSARY. THE LETTER WHICH PELAGIUS DESPATCHED TO POPE INNOCENT WITH AN EXPOSITION OF HIS BELIEF -- 533 of 1177 -- Now I will say nothing at present about the works of Coelestius

Chapter 425

CHAPTER 33 [XXXI.]

PELAGIUS PROFESSES NOTHING ON THE SUBJECT OF GRACE WHICH MAY NOT BE UNDERSTOOD OF THE LAW AND TEACHING “See,” he says, “how this epistle will clear me before your Blessedness; for in it we clearly and simply declare, tha

Chapter 426

CHAPTER 34

PELAGIUS SAYS THAT GRACE IS GIVEN ACCORDING TO MEN’S MERITS. THE BEGINNING, HOWEVER, OF MERIT IS FAITH; AND THIS IS A GRATUITOUS GIFT, NOT A RECOMPENSE FOR OUR MERITS Then, again, whatever it is which he means by “ grace

Chapter 427

CHAPTER 35 [XXXII.]

PELAGIUS BELIEVES THAT INFANTS HAVE NO SIN TO BE REMITTED IN BAPTISM But Pelagius would have the reader pass from this letter to the book which states his belief. This he has made mention of to yourselves, and in it he h

Chapter 428

CHAPTER 36 [XXXIII.]

COELESTIUS OPENLY DECLARES INFANTS TO HAVE NO ORIGINAL SIN Who would believe that, under so clear a confession, there is concealed a contrary meaning, if Coelestius had not exposed it? He who in that book of his, which h

Chapter 429

CHAPTER 37 [XXXIV.]

PELAGIUS NOWHERE ADMITS THE NEED OF DIVINE HELP FOR WILL AND ACTION I also have read those books or writings of his which he mentions in the letter which he sent to Pope Innocent, of blessed memory, with the exception of

Chapter 430

CHAPTER 38 [XXXV.]

A DEFINITION OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST BY PELAGIUS “Let them read,” says he, “the epistle which we wrote about twelve years ago to that holy man Bishop Paulinus: its subject throughout in some three hundred lines is the con

Chapter 431

CHAPTER 39 [XXXVI]

A LETTER OF PELAGIUS UNKNOWN TO AUGUSTIN “Let them also read,” says he, “my epistle to the holy Bishop Constantius, wherein I have — briefly no doubt, but yet plainly — conjoined the grace and help of God with man’s free

Chapter 432

CHAPTER 40 [XXXVII.]

THE HELP OF GRACE PLACED BY PELAGIUS IN THE MERE REVELATION OF TEACHING “Let them read moreover” says he, “what I wrote, when I was in the East, to Christ’s holy virgin Demetrias, and they will find that we so commend th

Chapter 433

CHAPTER 41

RESTORATION OF NATURE UNDERSTOOD BY PELAGIUS AS FORGIVENESS OF SINS In this same work he says in another passage: “Now, if even without God men show of what character they have been made by God, see what Christians have

Chapter 434

CHAPTER 42 [XXXVIII.]

GRACE PLACED BY PELAGIUS IN THE REMISSION OF SINS AND THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST Likewise in another place in this epistle of his he says: “Now, if even before the law, as we have already remarked, and long previous to the co

Chapter 435

CHAPTER 43 [XXXIX.]

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND EXAMPLE OF CHRIST HELD BY PELAGIUS ENOUGH TO SAVE THE MOST HARDENED SINNER That this, indeed, is his meaning, other words also of his show us, — not contained in this work, but in the third bo

Chapter 436

CHAPTER 44 [XL.]

PELAGIUS ONCE MORE GUARDS HIMSELF AGAINST THE NECESSITY OF GRACE Then, again, in the work addressed to the holy virgin, of which we have spoken already, there is this passage: “Let us submit ourselves to God, and by doin

Chapter 437

CHAPTER 45 [XLI.]

TO WHAT PURPOSE PELAGIUS THOUGHT PRAYERS OUGHT TO BE OFFERED -- 542 of 1177 -- “Let them also read,” says he, “my recent little treatise which we were obliged to publish a short while ago in defense of free will, and l

Chapter 438

CHAPTER 46 [XLII]

PELAGIUS PROFESSES TO RESPECT THE CATHOLIC AUTHORS Such are the particulars which, to the best of my ability, I have succeeded in obtaining from the writings of Pelagius, whenever he makes mention of grace. You perceive,

Chapter 439

CHAPTER 47 [XLIII.]

AMBROSE MOST HIGHLY PRAISED BY PELAGIUS “The blessed Bishop Ambrose,” says he, “in whose writings the Roman faith shines forth with especial brightness, and whom the Latins have always regarded as the very flower and glo

Chapter 440

CHAPTER 48 [XLIV]

AMRBOSE IS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH PELAGIUS I wish, indeed, that he would listen to the venerable bishop when, in the second book of his Exposition of the Gospel according to Luke, he expressly teaches us that the Lord co-

Chapter 441

CHAPTER 49 [XLV.]

AMBROSE TEACHES WITH WHAT EYE CHRIST TURNED AND LOOKED UPON PETER That repentance, indeed, itself, which beyond all doubt is an action of the will, is wrought into action by the mercy and help of the Lord, is asserted by

Chapter 442

CHAPTER 50

AMBROSE TEACHES THAT ALL MEN NEED GOD’S HELP In the same book the same St. Ambrose says again: “Now if Peter fell, who said, ‘Though all men shall be offended, yet will I never be offended,’ who else shall rightly presum

Chapter 443

CHAPTER 51 [XLVI.]

AMBROSE TEACHES THAT IT IS GOD THAT DOES FOR MAN WHAT PELAGIUS ATTRIBUTES TO FREE WILL Let him lend an ear also to the same godly bishop, who says, in the sixth book of this same book: “The reason why they would not rece

Chapter 444

CHAPTER 52 [XLVII.]

-- 547 of 1177 -- IF PELAGIUS AGREES WITH AMBROSE, AUGUSTIN HAS NO CONTROVERSY WITH HIM Inasmuch, however, as the discussion about free will and God’s grace has such difficulty in its distinctions, that when free will i

Chapter 445

CHAPTER 53 [XLVIII.]

IN WHAT SENSE SOME MEN MAY BE SAID TO LIVE WITHOUT SIN IN THE PRESENT LIFE But in reference to the particular point in which he quoted the holy Ambrose with so much approbation, — because he found in that author’s writin

Chapter 446

CHAPTER 54 [XLIX.]

AMBROSE TEACHES THAT NO ONE IS SINLESS IN THIS WORLD Lastly, let him give good heed to his venerable bishop, when he is expounding the Prophet Isaiah, and says that “no man in this world can be without sin.” Now nobody c

Chapter 447

CHAPTER 55 [L.]

AMRBOSE WITNESSES THAT PERFECT PURITY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HUMAN NATURE He ought, moreover, carefully to note that, in the very same context from which he quoted that passage of Ambrose’s, which seemed so satisfactory f

Chapter 448

BOOK II

ON ORIGINAL SIN WHEREIN AUGUSTIN SHOWS THAT PELAGIUS REALLY DIFFERS IN NO RESPECT, ON THE QUESTION OF ORIGINAL SIN AND THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS, FROM HIS FOLLOWER COELESTIUS, WHO, REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE ORIGINAL SIN A

Chapter 449

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

CAUTION NEEDED IN ATTENDING TO PELAGIUS’ DELIVERANCES ON INFANT BAPTISM N EXT I beg of you, carefully to observe with what caution you ought to lend an ear, on the question of the baptism of infants, to men of this

Chapter 450

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

COELESTIUS, ON HIS TRIAL AT CARTHAGE, REFUSES TO CONDEMN HIS ERROR; THE WRITTEN STATEMENT WHICH HE GAVE TO ZOSIMUS Coelestius, indeed, maintained this erroneous doctrine with less restraint. To such an extent did he push

Chapter 451

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

PART OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OF CARTHAGE AGAINST COELESTIUS “The bishop Aurelius said: ‘Let what follows be recited.’ It was accordingly recited, ‘That the sin of Adam was injurious to him alone, and not to the

Chapter 452

CHAPTER 4

COELESTIUS CONCEDES BAPTISM FOR INFANTS, WITHOUT AFFIRMING ORIGINAL SIN You, of course, see that Coelestius here conceded baptism for infants only in such a manner as to be unwilling to confess that the sin of the first

Chapter 453

CHAPTER 5 [V.]

COOLESTIUS BOOK WHICH WAS PRODUCED IN THE PROCEEDINGS AT ROME But in the book which he published at Rome, and produced in the proceedings before the church there, he so speaks on this question as to show that he really b

Chapter 454

CHAPTER 6 [VI.]

COELESTIUS THE DISCIPLE IS IN THIS WORK BOLDER THAN HIS MASTER Carefully observe, then, what Coelestius has advanced so very openly, and you will discover what amount of concealment Pelagius has practiced upon you. Coele

Chapter 455

CHAPTER 7

POPE ZOSIMUS KINDLY EXCUSES HIM The bishop, however, who presides over this See, upon seeing him hurrying headlong in so great presumption like a madman, chose in his great compassion, with a view to the man’s repentance

Chapter 456

CHAPTER 8 [VII.]

COELESTIUS CONDEMNED BY ZOSIMUS The venerable Pope Zosimus, keeping in view this deprecatory preamble, dealt with the man, puffed up as he was with the blasts of false doctrine, so as that he should condemn all the objec

Chapter 457

CHAPTER 9 [VIII.]

PELAGIUS DECEIVED THE COUNCIL IN PALESTINE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DECEIVE THE CHURCH AT ROME -- 556 of 1177 -- Wherefore Pelagius, too, if he will only reflect candidly on his own position and writings, has no reason for s

Chapter 458

CHAPTER 10 [IX.]

THE JUDGMENT OF INNOCENT RESPECTING THE PROCEEDINGS IN PALESTINE Five bishops, then, of whom I was one, wrote him a letter, wherein we mentioned the proceedings in Palestine, of which the report had already reached

Chapter 459

CHAPTER 11 [X.]

HOW THAT PELAGIUS DECEIVED THE SYNOD OF PALESTINE Now I pray you carefully to observe by what evidence Pelagius is shown to have deceived his judges in Palestine, not to mention other points, on this very question of the

Chapter 460

CHAPTER 12 [XI.]

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SYNOD OF PALESTINE IN THE CAUSE OF PELAGIUS “The synod said: Now, forasmuch as Pelagius has pronounced his anathema on this uncertain utterance of folly, rightly replying that a man by

Chapter 461

CHAPTER 13 [XII.]

COELESTIUS THE BOLDER HERETIC; PELAGIUS THE MORE SUBTLE You see, indeed, not to mention other points, how that Pelagius pronounced his anathema against those who hold that” Adam’s sin injured only himself, and not the hu

Chapter 462

CHAPTER 14 [XIII.]

HE SHOWS THAT, EVEN AFTER THE SYNOD OF PALESTINE, PELAGIUS HELD THE SAME OPINIONS AS COELESTIUS ON THE SUBJECT OF ORIGINAL SIN I see, however, that it may be most justly demanded of me, that I do not defer my promised de

Chapter 463

CHAPTER 15 [XIV.]

PELAGIUS BY HIS MENDACITY AND DECEPTION STOLE HIS ACQUITTAL FROM THE SYNOD IN PALESTINE For my own part, however, I, as you are quite aware, and as I also stated in the book which I addressed to our venerable and aged Au

Chapter 464

CHAPTER 16 [XV.]

PELAGIUS’ FRAUDULENT AND CRAFTY EXCUSES For what is the significance to the matter with which we now have to do of his answers to his followers, when he tells them that “the reason why he condemned the points which were

Chapter 465

CHAPTER 17

HOW PELAGIUS DECEIVED HIS JUDGES Now, is it by making such statements as these, meeting objections which are urged in one sense with explanations which are meant in another, that he designs to prove to us that he did not

Chapter 466

CHAPTER 18 [XVII.]

THE CONDEMNATION OF PELAGIUS This being the case, you of course feel that episcopal councils, and the Apostolic See, and the whole Roman Church, and the Roman Empire itself, which by God’s gracious favor has become Chris

Chapter 467

CHAPTER 19

PELAGIUS’ ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE THE APOSTOLIC SEE; HE INVERTS THE BEARINGS OF THE CONTROVERSY But I would have you carefully observe the way in which Pelagius endeavored by deception to overreach even the judgment of the bi

Chapter 468

CHAPTER 20

PELAGIUS PROVIDES A REFUGE FOR HIS FALSEHOOD IN AMBIGUOUS SUBTERFUGES And then observe how he makes his answer, how he provides in the obscure mazes of his double sense retreats for his false doctrine, quenching the trut

Chapter 469

CHAPTER 21 [XIX.]

PELAGIUS AVOIDS THE QUESTION AS TO WHY BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR INFANTS Now it is to no purpose that he says all this. He does not clear himself thereby. Not even they have ever denied the impossibility of infants enteri

Chapter 470

CHAPTER 22 [XX.]

ANOTHER INSTANCE OF PELAGIUS’ AMBIGUITY Then, again, observe what he subjoins to the last remark: “Can any one,” says he, “forbid a second birth to an eternal and certain life, to him who has -- 567 of 1177 -- been bor

Chapter 471

CHAPTER 23 [XXI.]

WHAT HE MEANS BY OUR BIRTH TO AN “UNCERTAIN” LIFE Certain brethren, however, afterwards failed not to remind us that Pelagius possibly expressed himself in this way, because on this question he is represented as having h

Chapter 472

CHAPTER 24

PELAGIUS’ LONG RESIDENCE AT ROME The truth indeed is, that in the book of his faith which he sent to Rome with this very letter to the before-mentioned Pope Innocent, to whom also he had written the letter, he only the m

Chapter 473

CHAPTER 25 [XXII.]

THE CONDEMNATION OF PELAGIUS AND COELESTIUS These things, then, being as I have stated them, it is now evident that there has arisen a deadly heresy, which, with the Lord’s help, the Church by this time guards against mo

Chapter 474

CHAPTER 26 [XXIII.]

THE PELAGIANS MAINTAIN THAT RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT ORIGINAL SIN DOES NOT ENDANGER THE FAITH Therefore, after the full discussion with which we have been able to rebut in writing this error of theirs, which is so inimica

Chapter 475

CHAPTER 27 [XXIII.]

ON QUESTIONS OUTSIDE THE FAITH WHAT THEY ARE, AND INSTANCES OF THE SAME But he is greatly mistaken in this opinion. The questions which he supposes to be outside the faith are of a very different character from those in

Chapter 476

CHAPTER 28 [XXIV.]

THE HERESY OF PELAGIUS AND COELESTIUS AIMS AT THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH This is, however, in the matter of the two men by one of whom we are sold under sin, by the other redeemed from sins — by the one have been

Chapter 477

CHAPTER 29

THE RIGHTEOUS MEN WHO LIVED IN THE TIME OF THE LAW WERE FOR ALL THAT NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE. THE GRACE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT HIDDEN UNDER THE OLD Death indeed reigned from Adam until Moses, because it was not

Chapter 478

CHAPTER 30 [XXVI]

PELAGIUS AND COELESTIUSDENY THAT THE ANCIENT SAINTS WERE SAVED BY CHRIST We must not therefore divide the times, as Pelagius and his disciples do, who say that men first lived righteously by nature, then under the law, t

Chapter 479

CHAPTER 31

CHRIST’S INCARNATION WAS OF AVAIL TO THE FATHERS, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOT YET HAPPENED By disputation of this sort, they attempt to exclude the ancient saints from the grace of the Mediator, as if the man Christ Jesus wer

Chapter 480

CHAPTER 32 [XXVII.]

HE SHOWS BY THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM THAT THE ANCIENT SAINTS BELIEVED IN THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST For it must not be supposed that those saints of old only profited by Christ’s divinity, which was ever existent, and not a

Chapter 481

CHAPTER 33 [XXVIII.]

HOW CHRIST IS OUR MEDIATOR Of this flesh and blood Melchizedek also, when he blessed Abram himself, gave the testimony which is very well known to Christian believers, so that long afterwards it was said to Christ in the

Chapter 482

CHAPTER 34 [XXIX.]

NO MAN EVER SAVED SAVE BY CHRIST Now, whoever maintains that human nature at any period required not the second Adam for its physician, because it was not corrupted in the first Adam, is convicted as an enemy to the grac

Chapter 483

CHAPTER 35 [XXX.]

WHY THE CIRCUMCISION OF INFANTS WAS ENJOINED UNDER PAIN OF SO GREAT A PUNISHMENT The Scripture does not inform us whether before Abraham’s time righteous men or their children were marked by any bodily or visible sign. A

Chapter 484

CHAPTER 36 [XXXI]

THE PLATONISTS’ OPINION ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE SOUL PREVIOUS TO THE BODY REJECTED What, then, is the purport of so severe a condemnation, when no willful sin has been committed? For it is not as certain Platonists ha

Chapter 485

CHAPTER 37 [XXXII.]

IN WHAT SENSE CHRIST IS CALLED “SIN.” There was a change of the sacramental ordinances made after the coming of Him whose advent they prefigured; but there was no change in the Mediator’s help, who, even previous to His

Chapter 486

CHAPTER 38 [XXXIII.]

ORIGINAL SIN DOES NOT RENDER MARRIAGE EVIL But they argue thus, saying: “Is not, then, marriage an evil, and the man that is produced by marriage not God’s work?” As if the good of the married life were that disease of c

Chapter 487

CHAPTER 39 [XXXIV.]

THREE THINGS GOOD AND LAUDABLE IN MATRIMONY Marriage, therefore, is a good in all the things which are proper to the married state. And these are three: it is the ordained means of procreation, it is the guarantee of cha

Chapter 488

CHAPTER 40 [XXXV.]

MARRIAGE EXISTED BEFORE SIN WAS COMMITTED. HOW GOD’S BLESSING OPERATED IN OUR FIRST PARENTS There was, however, undoubtedly marriage, even when sin had no prior existence; and for no other reason was it that woman, and n

Chapter 489

CHAPTER 41 [XXXVI.]

LUST AND TRAVAIL COME FROM SIN. WHENCE OUR MEMBERS BECAME A CAUSE OF SHAME -- 584 of 1177 -- Granted, therefore, that we have no means of showing both that the nuptial acts of that primeval marriage were quietly discha

Chapter 490

CHAPTER 42 [XXXVII.]

THE EVIL OF LUST OUGHT NOT TO BE ASCRIBED TO MARRIAGE. THE THREE GOOD RESULTS OF THE NUPTIAL ORDINANCE: OFFSPRING, CHASTITY, AND THE SACRAMENTAL UNION It is then manifest that must not be laid to the account of marri

Chapter 491

CHAPTER 43 [XXXVIII.]

HUMAN OFFSPRING, EVEN PREVIOUS TO BIRTH, UNDER CONDEMNATION AT THE VERY ROOT. USES OF MATRIMONY UNDERTAKEN FOR MERE PLEASURE NOT WITHOUT VENIAL FAULT Where God did nothing else than by a just sentence to condemn the man

Chapter 492

CHAPTER 44 [XXXIX.]

EVEN THE CHILDREN OF THE REGENERATE BORN IN SIN. THE EFFECT OF BAPTISM This concupiscence of the flesh would be prejudicial,[*] just in so far as it is present in us,[*] if the remission of sins were not so beneficial[*]

Chapter 493

CHAPTER 45

MAN’S DELIVERANCE SUITED TO THE CHARACTER OF HIS CAPTIVITY The guilt, therefore, of that corruption of which we are speaking will remain in the carnal offspring of the regenerate, until in them also it be washed away in

Chapter 494

CHAPTER 46

DIFFICULTY OF BELIEVING ORIGINAL SIN. MAN’S VICE IS A BEAST’S NATURE No one should feel surprise, and ask: “Why does God’s goodness create anything for the devil’s malignity to take possession of?” The truth is, God’s gi

Chapter 495

CHAPTER 47 [XLI.]

-- 590 of 1177 -- SENTENCES FROM AMBROSE IN FAVOR OF ORIGINAL SIN And now that we are about to bring this book to a conclusion, we think it proper to do on this subject of Original Sin what we did before in our treatise

Chapter 496

CHAPTER 48

PELAGIUS RIGHTLY CONDEMNED AND REALLY OPPOSED BY AMBROSE These words, however, of the man of God are contradicted by Pelagius, notwithstanding all his commendation of his author, when he himself declares that “we are pro

Chapter 497

BOOK II. CHAP. 53,

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE, “DE NUPTIS ET CONCUPISCENTIA.” “I ADDRESSED two books to the Illustrious Count Valerius, upon hearing that the Pelagians had brought sundry charges against us, — how, for instance, we condemned

Chapter 498

1. W HILE I was chafing at the long disappointment of receiving no

acknowledgments from your Highness of the many letters which I had written to you, I all at once received three letters from your Grace, — one by the hand of my fellow bishop Vindemialis, which was not meant for me only,

Chapter 499

2. Now, as to your praises in Christ, or rather Christ’s praises in you, see

what delight and joy it was to me to hear of them from him, who could neither deceive me because of his fidelity to me, nor be ignorant of them by reason of his friendship with you. But other testimony, which though infe

Chapter 500

3. Touching, however, the subject of conjugal purity, that we might be able

to bestow our commendation and love upon you for it, could we possibly listen to the information of any one but some bosom friend of your own, who had no mere superficial acquaintance with you, but knew your innermost li

Chapter 501

BOOK I

WHEREIN HE EXPOUNDS THE PECULIAR AND NATURAL BLESSINGS OF MARRIAGE. HE SHOWS THAT AMONG THESE BLESSINGS MUST NOT BE RECKONED FLESHLY CONCUPISCENCE; INSOMUCH AS THIS IS WHOLLY EVIL, SUCH AS DOES NOT PROCEED FROM THE

Chapter 502

CHAPTER 1

CONCERNING THE ARGUMENT OF THIS TREATISE O UR new heretics, my dearest son Valerius, who maintain that infants born in the flesh have no need of that medicine of Christ whereby sins are healed, are constantly affirming,

Chapter 503

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

WHY THIS TREATISE WAS ADDRESSED TO VALERIUS -- 599 of 1177 -- Now there are three very special reasons, which I will briefly indicate, why I wished to write to you particularly on this subject. One is, because by the g

Chapter 504

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

CONJUGAL CHASTITY THE GIFT OF GOD That chastity in the married state is God’s gift, is shown by the most blessed Paul, when, speaking on this very subject, he says: “But I would that all men were even as I myself: but ev

Chapter 505

CHAPTER 4

A DIFFICULTY AS REGARDS THE CHASTITY OF UNBELIEVERS. NONE BUT A BELIEVER IS TRULY A CHASTE MAN. What, then, have we to say when conjugal chastity is discovered even in some unbelievers? Must it be said that they si

Chapter 506

CHAPTER 5 [IV.]

THE NATURAL GOOD OF MARRIAGE. ALL SOCIETY NATURALLY REPUDIATES A FRAUDULENT COMPANION. -- 601 of 1177 -- WHAT IS TRUE CONJUGAL PURITY? NO TRUE VIRGINITY AND CHASTITY EXCEPT IN DEVOTION TO TRUE FAITH The union, then, of

Chapter 507

CHAPTER 6 [V.]

THE CENSURING OF LUST IS NOT A CONDEMNATION OF MARRIAGE; WHENCE COMES SHAME IN THE HUMAN BODY. ADAM AND EVE WERE NOT CREATED BLIND; MEANING OF THEIR “EYES BEING OPENED.” Now, this being the real state of the question, th

Chapter 508

CHAPTER 7 [VI.]

MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE JUSTLY REQUITED IN THE REBELLION OF HIS OWN FLESH; THE BLUSH OF SHAME FOR THE DISOBEDIENT MEMBERS OF THE BODY When the first man transgressed the law of God, he began to have another law in his me

Chapter 509

CHAPTER 8 [VII.]

THE EVIL OF LUST DOES NOT TAKE AWAY THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE Forasmuch, then, as the good of marriage could not be lost by the addition of this evil, some imprudent persons suppose that this is not an added evil, -- 605 of

Chapter 510

CHAPTER 9 [VIII.]

THIS DISEASE OF CONCUPISCENCE IN MARRIAGE IS NOT TO BE A MATTER OF WILL, BUT OF NECESSITY; WHAT OUGHT TO BE THE WILL OF BELIEVERS IN THE USE OF MATRIMONY; WHO IS TO BE REGARDED AS USING, AND NOT SUCCUMBING TO, THE EVIL O

Chapter 511

CHAPTER 10 [IX.]

WHY IT WAS SOMETIMES PERMITTED THAT A MAN SHOULD HAVE SEVERAL WIVES, YET NO WOMAN WAS EVER ALLOWED TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE HUSBAND. NATURE PREFERS SINGLENESS IN HER DOMINATIONS Now, if to the God of our fathers, who is lik

Chapter 512

CHAPTER 11 [X.]

THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE; MARRIAGE INDISSOLUBLE; THE WORLD’S LAW ABOUT DIVORCE DIFFERENT FROM THE GOSPEL’S -- 608 of 1177 -- It is certainly not fecundity only, the fruit of which consists of offspring, nor chasti

Chapter 513

CHAPTER 12 [XI.]

MARRIAGE DOES NOT CANCEL A MUTUAL VOW OF CONTINENCE; THERE WAS TRUE WEDLOCK BETWEEN MARY AND JOSEPH; IN WHAT WAY JOSEPH WAS THE FATHER OF CHRIST But God forbid that the nuptial bond should be regarded as broken between t

Chapter 514

CHAPTER 13

IN THE MARRIAGE OF MARY AND JOSEPH THERE WERE ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THE WEDDED STATE; ALL THAT IS BORN OF CONCUBINAGE IS SINFUL FLESH The entire good, therefore, of the nuptial institution was effected in the case of thes

Chapter 515

CHAPTER 14 [XIII.]

BEFORE CHRIST IT WAS A TIME FOR MARRYING; SINCE CHRIST IT HAS BEEN A TIME FOR CONTINENCE Now this propagation of children which among the ancient saints was a most bounden duty for the purpose of begetting and preserving

Chapter 516

CHAPTER 15

THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLE ON THIS SUBJECT Accordingly the apostle also, speaking apparently with this passage in view, declares: “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wive

Chapter 517

CHAPTER 17 [XV.]

WHAT IS SINLESS IN THE USE OF MATRIMONY? WHAT IS ATTENDED WITH VENIAL SIN, AND WHAT WITH MORTAL? It is, however, one thing for married persons to have intercourse only for the wish to beget children, which is not sinful:

Chapter 518

CHAPTER 19 [XVII.]

BLESSING OF MATRIMONY In matrimony, however, let these nuptial blessings be the objects of our love — offspring, fidelity, the sacramental bond. Offspring, not that it be born only, but born again; for it is born to puni

Chapter 519

CHAPTER 20 [XVIII]

WHY CHILDREN OF WRATH ARE BORN OF HOLY MATRIMONY This is the reason, indeed, why of even the just and lawful marriages of the children of God are born, not children of God, but children of the world; because also those w

Chapter 520

CHAPTER 21 [XIX.]

THUS SINNERS ARE BORN OF RIGHTEOUS PARENTS, EVEN AS WILD OLIVES SPRING FROM THE OLIVE That, therefore, which is born of the lust of the flesh is really born of the world, and not of God; but it is born of God, when it is

Chapter 521

CHAPTER 22 [XX.]

EVEN INFANTS, WHEN UNBAPTIZED, ARE IN THE POWER OF THE DEVIL; EXORCISM IN THE CASE OF INFANTS, AND RENUNCIATION OF THE DEVIL Now the Christian faith unfalteringly declares, what our new heretics have begun to deny, both

Chapter 522

CHAPTER 23 [XXI.]

SIN HAS NOT ARISEN OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF MARRIAGE; THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY A GREAT ONE IN THE CASE OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH A VERY SMALL ONE IN THE CASE OF A MAN AND HIS WIFE -- 620 of 1177 -- If now we interrogate

Chapter 523

CHAPTER 24

LUST AND SHAME COME FROM SIN; THE LAW OF SIN; THE SHAMELESSNESS OF THE CYNICS But if, in like manner, the question be asked of the concupiscence of the flesh, how it is that acts now bring shame which once were free from

Chapter 524

CHAPTER 25 [XXIII.]

CONCUPISCENCE IN THE REGENERATE WITHOUT CONSENT IS NOT SIN; IN WHAT SENSE CONCUPISCENCE IS CALLED SIN Now this concupiscence, this law of sin which dwells in our members, to which the law of righteousness forbids allegia

Chapter 525

CHAPTER 26

WHATEVER IS BORN THROUGH CONCUPISCENCE IS NOT UNDESERVEDLY IN SUBJECTION TO THE DEVIL BY REASON OF SIN; THE DEVIL DESERVES HEAVIER PUNISHMENT THAN MEN This wound which the devil has inflicted on the human race compels ev

Chapter 526

CHAPTER 28 [XXV.]

CONCUPISCENCE REMAINS AFTER BAPTISM, JUST AS LANGUOR DOES AFTER RECOVERY FROM DISEASE; -- 624 of 1177 -- CONCUPISCENCE IS DIMINISHED IN PERSONS OF ADVANCING YEARS, AND INCREASED IN THE INCONTINENT If the question

Chapter 527

CHAPTER 30 [XXVII.]

THE EVIL DESIRES OF CONCUPISCENCE; WE OUGHT TO WISH THAT THEY MAY NOT BE For the concupiscence of the flesh is in some sort active, even when it does not exhibit either an assent of the heart, where its seat of empire is

Chapter 528

CHAPTER 31 [XXVIII.]

WHO IS THE MAN THAT CAN SAY, “IT IS NO MORE I THAT DO IT A man, however, is much deceived if, while consenting to the lust of his flesh, and then both resolving in his mind to do its desires and setting about it, he supp

Chapter 529

CHAPTER 32

WHEN GOOD WILL BE PERFECTLY DONE. The apostle then adds these words: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perfect that which is good I find not.

Chapter 530

CHAPTER 33 [XXX.]

TRUE FREEDOM COMES WITH WILLING DELIGHT IN GOD’S LAW -- 628 of 1177 -- The apostle then repeats his former statement, the more fully to recommend its purport: “For the good,” says he, “that I would, I do not: but the e

Chapter 531

CHAPTER 34

HOW CONCUPISCENCE MADE A CAPTIVE OF THE APOSTLE; WHAT THE LAW OF SIN WAS TO THE APOSTLE Then, indeed, this statement, “I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind,” refers to that very concupiscenc

Chapter 532

CHAPTER 35 [XXXI.]

THE FLESH, CARNAL AFFECTION But we have in the apostle’s own language, a little before, a sufficiently clear proof that he might have meant his flesh when he said, “Bringing me into captivity.” For after declaring, “I kn

Chapter 533

CHAPTER 36

EVEN NOW WHILE WE STILL HAVE CONCUPISCENCE WE MAY BE SAFE IN CHRIST But the apostle pursues the subject, and says, “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin;” which must be t

Chapter 534

CHAPTER 37 [XXXII.]

THE LAW OF SIN WITH ITS GUILT IN UNBAPTIZED INFANTS. BY ADAM’S SIN THE HUMAN RACE HAS BECOME A “WILD OLIVE TREE.” Until, then, this remission of sins takes place in the offspring, they have within them the law of sin in

Chapter 535

CHAPTER 38 [XXXIII.]

TO BAPTISM MUST BE REFERRED ALL REMISSION OF SINS, AND THE COMPLETE HEALING OF THE RESURRECTION. DAILY CLEANSING Blessed, therefore, is the olive tree “whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;” blessed

Chapter 536

CHAPTER 39 [XXXIV.]

BY THE HOLINESS OF BAPTISM, NOT SINS ONLY, BUT ALL EVILS WHATSOEVER, HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THE CHURCH IS NOT YET FREE FROM ALL STAIN And thus not only all the sins, but all the ills of men of what kind soever, are in cours

Chapter 537

CHAPTER 40 [XXXV.]

REFUTATION OF THE PELAGIANS BY THE AUTHORITY OF ST. AMBROSE, WHOM THEY QUOTE TO SHOW THAT THE DESIRE OF THE FLESH IS A NATURAL GOOD -- 634 of 1177 -- In respect, however, to this concupiscence of the flesh, we have str

Chapter 538

BOOK II

AUGUSTIN, IN THIS LATTER BOOK, REFUTES SUNDRY SENTENCES WHICH HAD BEEN CULLED BY SOME UNKNOWN AUTHOR FROM THE FIRST OF FOUR BOOKS THAT JULIANUS HAD PUBLISHED IN OPPOSITION TO THE FORMER BOOK OF HIS TREATISE “ON MARRIAGE

Chapter 539

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT I C ANNOT tell you, dearly loved and honored son Valerius, how great is the pleasure which my heart receives when I hear of your warm and earnest interest in the testimony of the word of God agains

Chapter 540

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

IN THIS AND THE FOUR NEXT CHAPTERS HE ADDUCES THE GARBLED EXTRACTS HE HAS TO CONSIDER The paper which I now answer starts with this title: “ Headings out of a book written by Augustin, in reply to which I have culled a f

Chapter 541

CHAPTER 3

THE SAME CONTINUED The words which he has quoted and endeavored to refute out of my book, which I sent to you, and with which you are very well acquainted, are the following: “They are constantly affirming, in their exce

Chapter 542

CHAPTER 4

THE SAME CONTINUED But he has added other words of mine, where I have said: “Nor do they reflect that the good of marriage is no more impeachable by reason of the original evil which is derived therefrom, than the evil o

Chapter 543

CHAPTER 5

THE SAME CONTINUED He then returns to our words, which were quoted before: “We maintain that they who are born of such a union contract original sin; and we do not deny that, of whatever parents they are born, they are s

Chapter 544

CHAPTER 7 [III.]

AUGUSTIN ADDUCES A PASSAGE SELECTED FROM THE PREFACE OF JULIANUS. -- 641 of 1177 -- (SEE “THE UNFINISHED WORK,” i. 73.) Let us now look at those words of ours which he adduced just as it suited him, and to which he wou

Chapter 545

CHAPTER 9

THE CATHOLICS MAINTAIN THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN, AND THUS ARE FAR FROM BEING MANICHEANS Listen, then, for a little while, and observe what is involved in this question. Catholics say that human nature was created goo

Chapter 546

CHAPTER 10 [IV.]

IN WHAT MANNER THE ADVERSARY’S CAVILS MUST BE REFUTED Let us now look at the rest of what he has joined together in his selections. But what should be my course of proceeding? Ought I to set forth every passage of his fo

Chapter 547

CHAPTER 11

THE DEVIL THE AUTHOR, NOT OF NATURE, BUT ONLY OF SIN Now, the man who forwarded to your Love the paper in question has introduced the contents thereof with this title: “In opposition to those persons who condemn matrimon

Chapter 548

CHAPTER 12

EVE’S NAME MEANS LIFE, AND IS A GREAT SACRAMENT OF THE CHURCH Now, observe the rest of the passage in which he thinks he finds, to our prejudice, what is consonant with the above-quoted title. “God,” says he, “who had fr

Chapter 549

CHAPTER 13

THE PELAGIAN ARGUMENT TO SHOW THAT THE DEVIL HAS NO RIGHTS IN THE FRUITS OF MARRIAGE After these true and catholic statements, which are, moreover, really contained in the Holy Scriptures, although they are not adduced b

Chapter 550

CHAPTER 14 [V.]

-- 647 of 1177 -- CONCUPISCENCE ALONE, IN MARRIAGE, IS NOT OF GOD You see the terms of his question to us: what the devil can find in the sexes to call his own, by reason of which they should be in his power, who are bo

Chapter 551

CHAPTER 15

MAN, BY BIRTH, IS PLACED UNDER THE DOMINION OF THE DEVIL THROUGH SIN; WE WERE ALL ONE IN ADAM WHEN HE SINNED He then proceeds to ask: “Why, then, are they in the devil’s power whom God created?” And he finds an answer to

Chapter 552

CHAPTER 16 [VI.]

IT IS NOT OF US, BUT OUR SINS, THAT THE DEVIL IS THE AUTHOR He puts to us, then, another question, saying, “Whom, then, do you confess to be the author of infants? The true God?” I answer: “Yes; the true God.” He then re

Chapter 553

CHAPTER 17 [VII.]

THE PELAGIANS ARE NOT ASHAMED TO EULOGIZE CONCUPISCENCE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ASHAMED TO MENTION ITS NAME But among so many names of good things, such as bodies, sexes, unions, he never once mentions the lust or concupiscen

Chapter 554

CHAPTER 18

THE SAME CONTINUED But now, I pray you, look a little more attentively, and observe how he contrives to find a name wherewith to cover again what he blushes to unfold. “For,” says he, “Adam begot him by the power of his

Chapter 555

CHAPTER 19 [VIII.]

THE PELAGIANS MISUNDERSTAND “SEED” IN SCRIPTURE He goes on to say: “After a while the divine Scripture says again, ‘Adam knew Eve his wife; and she bare a son, and he called his name Seth: saying, The Lord hath raised me

Chapter 556

CHAPTER 20

ORIGINAL SIN IS DERIVED FROM THE FAULTY CONDITION OF HUMAN SEED -- 653 of 1177 -- This, however, I would not say, as implying at all that we must look for some other creator than the supreme and true God, of either hum

Chapter 557

CHAPTER 21 [IX.]

IT IS THE GOOD GOD THAT GIVES FRUITFULNESS, AND THE DEVIL THAT CORRUPTS THE FRUIT What, therefore, is this man’s meaning, in the next passage, wherein he says concerning Noah and his sons, that “they were blessed, even a

Chapter 558

CHAPTER 22

SHALL WE BE ASHAMED OF WHAT WE DO, OR OF WHAT GOD DOES? It is, however, of pleasure that this man spoke in his passage, because pleasure can be even honorable: of carnal concupiscence, or lust, which -- 655 of 1177 --

Chapter 559

CHAPTER 23 [X.]

-- 656 of 1177 -- THE PELAGIANS AFFIRM THAT GOD IN THE CASE OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH AROUSED CONCUPISCENCE AS A GIFT FROM HEAVEN He has much also to say, though to no purpose, concerning Abraham and Sarah, how they received

Chapter 560

CHAPTER 24 [XI.]

WHAT COVENANT OF GOD THE NEW-BORN BABE BREAKS. WHAT WAS THE VALUE OF CIRCUMCISION But let him inform us how it was that his soul would be cut off from his people if he had not been circumcised on the eighth day. How coul

Chapter 561

CHAPTER 25 [XII.]

-- 658 of 1177 -- AUGUSTIN NOT THE DEVISER OF ORIGINAL SIN “This sexual connection of bodies,” he says, “together with the ardor, with the pleasure, with the emission of seed, was made by God, and is praiseworthy on its

Chapter 562

CHAPTER 26 [XIII.]

THE CHILD IN NO SENSE FORMED BY CONCUPISCENCE But as he was speaking of Abraham and Sarah, he goes on to say: “If, indeed, you were to affirm that the natural use was strong in them, and there was no offspring, my answer

Chapter 563

CHAPTER 27

THE PELAGIANS ARGUE THAT GOD SOMETIMES CLOSES THE WOMB IN ANGER, AND OPENS IT WHEN APPEASED Carefully consider the rest of his remarks: “This likewise,” says he, “is confirmed by the apostle’s authority. For when the ble

Chapter 564

CHAPTER 28 [XIV.]

AUGUSTIN’S ANSWER TO THIS ARGUMENT. ITS DEALING WITH SCRIPTURE Now to this lengthy statement of his we have to say in answer, that, in the passages which he has quoted from the sacred writings, there is nothing said abou

Chapter 565

CHAPTER 29

THE SAME CONTINUED. AUGUSTIN ALSO ASSERTS THAT GOD FORMS MAN AT BIRTH Though I have given special attention to the point, I have failed to discover what assistance he could obtain from this deceitful use of Scripture, ex

Chapter 566

CHAPTER 30 [XV.]

THE CASE OF ABIMELECH AND HIS HOUSE EXAMINED Then, again, as to the passage which he has adduced from the inspired history concerning Abimelech, and God’s choosing to close up every womb in his household that the women s

Chapter 567

CHAPTER 31 [XVI.]

WHY GOD PROCEEDS TO CREATE HUMAN BEINGS, WHO HE KNOWS WILL BE BORN IN SIN Let us now look at those three clauses of his, than which three, he says, nothing more profane could possibly be uttered: “Either God did not make

Chapter 568

CHAPTER 32 [XVII.]

GOD NOT THE AUTHOR OF THE EVIL IN THOSE WHOM HE CREATES Then, does God feed the children of perdition, the goats on His left hand, for the devil and nourish and clothe them for the devil “because He maketh His sun to ris

Chapter 569

CHAPTER 33 [XVIII.]

THOUGH GOD MAKES US, WE PERISH UNLESS HE RE-MAKES US IN CHRIST From this most true and firmly — established principle of the apostolic and catholic faith the writer before us departs in company with the Pelagians. He wil

Chapter 570

CHAPTER 34 [XIX.]

THE PELAGIANS ARGUE THAT COHABITATION RIGHTLY USED IS A GOOD, AND WHAT IS BORN FROM IT IS GOOD -- 667 of 1177 -- I request your attention now to the following words. He says, “That children, however, who are conceived

Chapter 571

CHAPTER 35 [XX.]

HE ANSWERS THE ARGUMENTS OF JULIANUS. WHAT IS THE NATURAL USE OF THE WOMAN? WHAT IS THE UNNATURAL USE? My answer to this challenge is, that not only the children of wedlock, but also those of adultery, are a good work in

Chapter 572

CHAPTER 36 [XXI.]

GOD MADE NATURE GOOD: THE SAVIOR RESTORES IT WHEN CORRUPTED Now we do not reprehend bread and wine because some men are luxurious and drunkards, any more than we disapprove of gold because of the greedy and avaricious. W

Chapter 573

CHAPTER 37 [XXII.]

IF THERE IS NO MARRIAGE WITHOUT COHABITATION, SO THERE IS NO COHABITATION WITHOUT SHAME “Show me,” he says, “any bodily marriage without sexual connection.” I do not show him any bodily marriage without sexual connection

Chapter 574

CHAPTER 38 [XXIII.]

JOVINIAN USED FORMERLY TO CALL CATHOLICS MANICHEANS; THE ARIANS ALSO USED TO CALL CATHOLICS SABELLIANS -- 671 of 1177 -- “By your new mode of controversy,” says he, “you both profess to be a catholic and patronize M

Chapter 575

CHAPTER 39 [XXIV.]

MAN BORN OF WHATEVER PARENTAGE IS SINFUL AND CAPABLE OF REDEMPTION -- 672 of 1177 -- He then says: “You conclude that a human being, if born of fornication; is not guilty; and if born in wedlock, is not innocent. Your

Chapter 576

CHAPTER 40 [XXV.]

AUGUSTIN DECLINES THE DILEMMA OFFERED HIM “One of these propositions,” says he, “is true, the other false.” My reply is as brief as the allegation: Both are really true, neither is false. “It is true,” he goes on to say,

Chapter 577

CHAPTER 41 [XXVI.]

-- 673 of 1177 -- THE PELAGIANS ARGUE THAT ORIGINAL SIN CANNOT COME THROUGH MARRIAGE IF MARRIAGE IS GOOD After this he proceeds with the following words: “Certainly if evil is contracted from marriage, it may be blamed,

Chapter 578

CHAPTER 44 [XXVII.]

THE PELAGIANS ARGUE THAT IF SIN COMES BY BIRTH, ALL MARRIED PEOPLE DESERVE CONDEMNATION What, then, is his object when he inquires of us, “By what means sin may be found in an infant, through the will, or through marriag

Chapter 579

CHAPTER 48

ORIGINAL SIN AROSE FROM ADAM’S DEPRAVED WILL. WHENCE THE CORRUPT WILL SPRANG “If,” says he, “sin comes from the will, it is an evil will that causes sin; if it comes from nature, then nature is evil.” I at once answer, S

Chapter 580

CHAPTER 49 [XXIX.]

IN INFANTS NATURE IS OF GOD, AND THE CORRUPTION OF NATURE OF THE DEVIL “In a single man rightly is the intention blamed and the origin praised; because there must be two things to admit of contraries: in an infant, howev

Chapter 581

CHAPTER 50

THE RISE AND ORIGIN OF EVIL. THE EXORCISM AND EXSUFFLATION OF INFANTS, A PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN RITE As to the passage, which he seemed to himself to indite in a pious vein, as it were, “If nature is of God, there cannot be

Chapter 582

CHAPTER 51

TO CALL THOSE THAT TEACH ORIGINAL SIN MANICHEANS IS TO ACCUSE AMBROSE, CYPRIAN, AND THE WHOLE CHURCH What, moreover, shall I say of those commentators on the divine Scriptures who have flourished in the catholic Church?

Chapter 583

CHAPTER 52 [XXX.]

SIN WAS THE ORIGIN OF ALL SHAMEFUL CONCUPISCENCE “Do you,” he asks, “repeat your affirmation, ‘There would be no concupiscence if man had not first sinned; marriage, however, would have existed, even if no one had sinned

Chapter 584

CHAPTER 53 [XXXI.]

CONCUPISCENCE NEED NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY FOR FRUITFULNESS He says: “Therefore that marriage which might have been without concupiscence, without bodily motion, without necessity for sexual organs — to use your own stat

Chapter 585

CHAPTER 54 [XXXII.]

HOW MARRIAGE IS NOW DIFFERENT SINCE THE EXISTENCE OF SIN God forbid that we should say, what this man pretends we say, “Such marriages as are now enacted are the invention of the devil.” Why, they are absolutely the same

Chapter 586

CHAPTER 55 [XXXIII.]

LUST IS A DISEASE; THE WORD “PASSION” IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL SENSE He then passes on from those who are united in marriage to those who are born of it. It is in relation to these that we have to encounter the most laborio

Chapter 587

CHAPTER 56

THE PELAGIANS ALLOW THAT CHRIST DIED EVEN FOR INFANTS; JULIANUS SLAYS HIMSELF WITH HIS OWN SWORD But whatever opinion he may entertain about the shame-causing concupiscence of the flesh, I must request your attention to

Chapter 588

CHAPTER 57 [XXXIV.]

THE GREAT SIN OF THE FIRST MAN Now observe what follows, as he goes on to say: “If, before sin, God created a source from which men should be born, but the devil a source from which parents were disturbed, then beyond a

Chapter 589

CHAPTER 58

ADAM’S SIN IS DERIVED FROM HIM TO EVERY ONE WHO IS BORN EVEN OF REGENERATE PARENTS; THE EXAMPLE OF THE OLIVE TREE AND THE WILD OLIVE But this sin, which changed man for the worse in paradise, because it is far greater th

Chapter 590

CHAPTER 59 [XXXV.]

-- 692 of 1177 -- THE PELAGIANS CAN HARDLY VENTURE TO PLACE CONCUPISCENCE IN PARADISE BEFORE THE COMMISSION OF SIN This being the case, let him think what he pleases about this concupiscence of the flesh and about the l

Chapter 591

CHAPTER 60

LET NOT THE PELAGIANS INDULGE THEMSELVES IN A CRUEL DEFENSE OF INFANTS As I said, however, let him entertain what views he likes of this lust; let him proclaim it as he pleases, praise it as much as he chooses (and he pl

Chapter 592

BOOK II. CHAP. 56,

ON THE FOLLOWING TREATISE, “DE ANIMA ET EJUS ORIGINE.” “A T that time one Vincentius discovered in the possession of a certain presbyter called Peter, in Mauritania Caesariensis, a little work of mine, in a particular pa

Chapter 593

418. It belongs, therefore, to the termination of the year 419 or to the

commencement of the year 420, having been written after “the condemnation of the Pelagians by the authority of catholic Councils and of the Apostolic See,” but “very soon after,” as that happy event had happened in the y

Chapter 594

BOOK I

ADDRESSED TO RENATUS, THE MONK ON RECEIVING FROM RENATUS THE TWO BOOKS OF VINCENTIUS VICTOR, WHO DISAPPROVED OF AUGUSTIN’S OPINION TOUCHING THE NATURE OF THE SOUL, AND OF HIS HESITATION IN RESPECT OF ITS ORIGIN, AUGUSTIN

Chapter 595

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

RENATUS HAD DONE HIM A KINDNESS BY SENDING HIM THE BOOKS WHICH HAD BEEN ADDRESSED TO HIM -- 700 of 1177 -- Y OUR sincerity towards us, dearest brother Renatus, and your brotherly kindness, and the affection of mutual l

Chapter 596

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

HE RECEIVES WITH A KINDLY AND PATIENT FEELING THE BOOKS OF A YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED MAN WHO WROTE AGAINST HIM IN A TONE OF ARROGANCE. VINCENTIUS VICTOR CONVERTED FROM THE SECT OF THE ROGATIANS I am somewhat pained, howe

Chapter 597

CHAPTER 3 [III]

THE ELOQUENCE OF VINCENTIUS, ITS DANGERS AND ITS TOLERABLENESS For he has an eloquence by which he is able to explain what he thinks. He must, therefore, be dealt with accordingly; and we must hope that he may entertain

Chapter 598

CHAPTER 4 [IV.]

THE ERRORS CONTAINED IN THE BOOKS OF VINCENTIUS VICTOR. HE SAYS THAT THE SOUL COMES FROM GOD, BUT WAS NOT MADE EITHER OUT OF NOTHING OR OUT OF ANY CREATED THING I will now proceed to point out what things are chiefly to

Chapter 599

CHAPTER 5 [V.]

ANOTHER OF VICTOR’S ERRORS, THAT THE SOUL IS CORPOREAL But as regards his contention, “that the soul is not spirit, but body,” what else can he mean to make out, than that we are composed, not of soul and body, but of tw

Chapter 600

CHAPTER 6 [VI.]

ANOTHER ERROR OUT OF HIS SECOND BOOK, TO THE EFFECT, THAT THE SOUL DESERVED TO BE POLLUTED BY THE BODY But he is plainly past endurance in what he says in his second book, when he endeavors to solve a very difficult ques

Chapter 601

CHAPTER 7 [VII.]

VICTOR ENTANGLES HIMSELF IN AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT QUESTION. GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE IS NO CAUSE OF SIN In another passage, also, on proposing for explanation the very same question in which he had entangled himself, he sa

Chapter 602

CHAPTER 8 [VIII.]

VICTOR’S ERRONEOUS OPINION, THAT THE SOUL DESERVED TO BECOME SINFUL Vainly supposing, then, that he was able to solve this question from the foreknowledge of God, he keeps floundering on, and says: “If the soul deserved

Chapter 603

CHAPTER 9

VICTOR UTTERLY UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW THE SINLESS SOUL DESERVED TO BE MADE SINFUL But what does lie mean by that, which in his introduction he says has befallen him? For previous to proposing that question of his, and as

Chapter 604

CHAPTER 10 [IX.]

ANOTHER ERROR OF VICTOR’S, THAT INFANTS DYING UNBAPTIZED MAY ATTAIN TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. ANOTHER, THAT THE SACRIFICE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST -- 708 of 1177 -- MUST BE OFFERED FOR INFANTS WHO DIE BEFORE THEY ARE BAPT

Chapter 605

CHAPTER 11

MARTYRDOM FOR CHRIST SUPPLIES THE PLACE OF BAPTISM. THE FAITH OF THE THIEF WHO WAS CRUCIFIED ALONG WITH CHRIST TAKEN AS MARTYRDOM AND HENCE FOR BAPTISM Accordingly, the thief, who was no follower of the Lord previous to

Chapter 606

CHAPTER 12 [X.]

DINOCRATES, BROTHER OF THE MARTYR ST. PERPETUA, IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE STATE OF CONDEMNATION BY THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINT Concerning Dinocrates, however, the brother of St. Perpetua, there is no record in

Chapter 607

CHAPTER 13 [XI.]

THE SACRIFICE OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST WILL NOT AVAIL FOR UNBAPTIZED PERSONS, AND CAN NOT BE OFFERED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO DIE UNBAPTIZED But even if it be conceded to this man (what cannot by any means be

Chapter 608

CHAPTER 14

VICTOR’S DILEMMA: HE MUST EITHER SAY ALL INFANTS ARE SAVED, OR ELSE GOD SLAYS THE INNOCENT Let him, then, find an answer, if he can, when the question is asked of him, why it was that the soul, without any sin whatever,

Chapter 609

CHAPTER 15 [XII.]

GOD DOES NOT JUDGE ANY ONE FOR WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE DONE IF HIS LIFE HAD BEEN PROLONGED, BUT SIMPLY FOR THE DEEDS HE ACTUALLY COMMITS For my own part, indeed, I affirm that neither of the alternative cases ought to be admi

Chapter 610

CHAPTER 16 [XIII.]

DIFFICULTY IN THE OPINION WHICH MAINTAINS THAT SOULS ARE NOT BY PROPAGATION This means, then, of settling the point whereby the soul was sent into the flesh until what time it should be delivered from the flesh, — seeing

Chapter 611

CHAPTER 17 [XIV.]

HE SHOWS THAT THE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE ADDUCED BY VICTOR DO NOT PROVE THAT SOULS ARE MADE BY GOD IN SUCH A WAY AS NOT TO BE DERIVED BY PROPAGATION: FIRST PASSAGE Here, perhaps, he may say that his opinion is backed by d

Chapter 612

CHAPTER 18

BY “BREATH” IS SIGNIFIED SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT How, again, does he know whether the repetition of the idea in the sentence, “who giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk over it,” may not be

Chapter 613

CHAPTER 19

THE MEANING OF “BREATH” IN SCRIPTURE The term, however, that is used in the Greek version, pnoh, is variously rendered in Latin: sometimes by flatus, breath; sometimes by spiritus, spirit; sometimes by inspiratio, inspir

Chapter 614

CHAPTER 22

-- 720 of 1177 -- VICTOR’S THIRD QUOTATION He proceeds to favor us with a third passage, in which it is written: “Who forms the spirit of man within him.” As if any one denied this! No; all our question is as to the mod

Chapter 615

CHAPTER 24 [XV.]

-- 721 of 1177 -- WHETHER OR NO THE SOUL IS DERIVED BY NATURAL DESCENT (EX TRADUCE), HIS CITED PASSAGES FAIL TO SHOW For as much, then, as the passages of Scripture which he mentions by no means show what he endeavors t

Chapter 616

CHAPTER 26 [XVI.]

THE FIFTH PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE QUOTED BY VICTOR “Learn,” says he, “for, behold the apostle teaches you.” Yes, indeed, I will learn, if the apostle teaches; since it is God alone who teaches by the apostle. But, pray, wha

Chapter 617

CHAPTER 27 [XVII.]

AUGUSTIN DID NOT VENTURE TO DEFINE ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROPAGATION OF THE SOUL For whence comes it that he is so careless about the Scriptures, which he talks of, as not to notice that when he reads of human beings being

Chapter 618

CHAPTER 28

A NATURAL FIGURE OF SPEECH MUST NOT BE LITERALLY PRESSED He goes on to remark: “But the apostle, by saying, ‘And He Himself giveth life and spirit to all,’ and then by adding the words, ‘And hath made the whole race of m

Chapter 619

CHAPTER 29 [XVIII.]

THE SIXTH PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE QUOTED BY VICTOR Let us now look at the quotation from Genesis, where the woman was created out of the side of the man, and was brought to him, and he said: “This is now bone of my bones, a

Chapter 620

CHAPTER 30

THE DANGER OF ARGUING FROM SILENCE Now, while the disputants are thus contending with one another in alternate argument, I so judge between them that they must not rely on uncertain evidence; nor make bold assertions on

Chapter 621

CHAPTER 31

THE ARGUMENT OF THE APOLLINARIANS TO PROVE THAT CHRIST WAS WITHOUT THE HUMAN SOUL OF THIS SAME SORT Although, then, this question remains unsolved by these passages of Scripture, which are certainly indecisive so far as

Chapter 622

CHAPTER 32 [XIX.]

THE SELF-CONTRADICTION OF VICTOR AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUL Under these circumstances, I find that this treatise of mine must now be closed. It contains, in fact, all that seemed to me chiefly necessary to the subject

Chapter 623

CHAPTER 33

AUGUSTIN HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE OPINION ABOUT THE PROPAGATION OF SOULS BEING REFUTED, AND THAT ABOUT THEIR INSUFFLATION BEING MAINTAINED -- 732 of 1177 -- A S for the opinion, that new souls are created by inbreathing

Chapter 624

CHAPTER 34

THE MISTAKES WHICH MUST BE AVOIDED BY THOSE WHO SAY THAT MEN’S SOULS ARE NOT DERIVED FROM THEIR PARENTS, BUT ARE AFRESH INBREATHED BY GOD IN EVERY INSTANCE All, therefore, who wish to maintain that new souls are rightly

Chapter 625

CHAPTER 35 [XX.]

CONCLUSION As for this present treatise, which I have thought it proper to address to no other person in preference to yourself, who have taken a kindly and true interest both in our common faith and my character, as a t

Chapter 626

BOOK II

IN THE SHAPE OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE PRESBYTER PETER. HE ADVISES PETER NOT TO INCUR THE IMPUTATION OF HAVING APPROVED OF THE BOOKS WHICH HAD BEEN ADDRESSED TO HIM BY VICTOR ON THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUL, BY ANY USE HE M

Chapter 627

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

DEPRAVED ELOQUENCE AN INJURIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT There have reached me the two books of Vincentius Victor, which he addressed in writing to your Holiness; they have been forwarded to me by our brother Renatus, a layman ind

Chapter 628

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

HE ASKS WHAT THE GREAT KNOWLEDGE IS THAT VICTOR IMPARTS Therefore, brother greatly beloved, I desire to know what you learned of him, in order that, if I have already possessed the knowledge, I may participate in your jo

Chapter 629

CHAPTER 3

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SENSES OF THE BODY AND SOUL Again, I wonder whether this man taught you the difference between the bodily senses and the sensibilities of the soul; and whether you, who were a person of conside

Chapter 630

CHAPTER 4

TO BELIEVE THE SOUL IS A PART OF GOD IS BLASPHEMY And if you happened to suppose, before receiving the instruction from this teacher, which you are rejoicing to have received, that the human soul is a portion of God’s na

Chapter 631

CHAPTER 5 [III.]

IN WHAT SENSE CREATED BEINGS ARE OUT OF GOD Now, just because I do not suppose that you, a member of the catholic Church, ever believed the human soul to be a portion of God, or that the soul’s nature is in any degree id

Chapter 632

CHAPTER 6

SHALL GOD’S NATURE BE MUTABLE, SINFUL, IMPIOUS, EVEN ETERNALLY DAMNED All this, however, I am saying to a catholic: advising with him rather than teaching him. For I do not suppose that these things are new to you; or th

Chapter 633

CHAPTER 7

TO THINK THE SOUL CORPOREAL AN ERROR But if you say to me, He has not taught me this; nor have I by any means given my assent to this erroneous opinion of his, however much I was enchanted by the sweetness of his eloquen

Chapter 634

CHAPTER 8

THE THIRST OF THE RICH MAN IN HELL DOES NOT PROVE THE SOUL TO BE CORPOREAL Now with regard to the point, which with perfect propriety and great soundness of view he believes, that souls after quitting the body are judged

Chapter 635

CHAPTER 9 [V.]

-- 743 of 1177 -- HOW COULD THE INCORPOREAL GOD BREATHE OUT OF HIMSELF A CORPOREAL SUBSTANCE? In that he believes God to be truly incorporeal, I congratulate him that herein, at all events, he has kept himself uninfluen

Chapter 636

CHAPTER 10 [VI.]

CHILDREN MAY BE FOUND OF LIKE OR OF UNLIKE DISPOSITIONS WITH THEIR PARENTS Then, again, how ineptly he labors to free the soul, which he supposes to be corporeal, from the passions of the body, raising questions about th

Chapter 637

CHAPTER 11 [VII.]

VICTOR IMPLIES THAT THE SOUL HAD A “STATE” AND “MERIT” BEFORE INCARNATION Would you hesitate yourself to reprobate what he has said concerning the soul? “You will not have it,” he says, “that the soul contracts from the

Chapter 638

CHAPTER 12 [VIII.]

HOW DID THE SOUL DESERVE TO BE INCARNATED? -- 747 of 1177 -- He also says some time afterwards: “The soul therefore, if it deserved to be sinful, although it could not have been sinful, yet did not remain in sin; becau

Chapter 639

CHAPTER 13 [IX.]

VICTOR TEACHES THAT GOD THWARTS HIS OWN PREDESTINATION Let us now go on to plainer matters. For while he was confined within these great straits, as to how souls can be held bound by the chain of original sin, when they

Chapter 640

CHAPTER 14 [X.]

VICTOR SENDS THOSE INFANTS WHO DIE UNBAPTIZED TO PARADISE AND THE HEAVENLY MANSIONS, BUT NOT TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN But I beg you mark how bold he is, who is displeased with hesitancy, which prefers to be cautious rath

Chapter 641

CHAPTER 15 [XI.]

VICTOR “DECIDES” THAT OBLATIONS SHOULD BE OFFERED UP FOR THOSE WHO DIE UNBAPTIZED Still he chafes with indecision, and is well-nigh suffocated in the terrible straits of his theory; for very likely he descries with a mor

Chapter 642

CHAPTER 16 [XII.]

VICTOR PROMISES TO THE UNBAPTIZED PARADISE AFTER THEIR DEATH, AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AFTER THEIR RESURRECTION, ALTHOUGH HE ADMITS THAT THIS OPPOSES CHRIST’S STATEMENT But your friend, in comparison with what he has sh

Chapter 643

CHAPTER 17

DISOBEDIENT COMPASSION AND COMPASSIONATE DISOBEDIENCE REPROBATED. MARTYRDOM IN LIEU OF -- 753 of 1177 -- BAPTISM The new-fangled Pelagian heretics have been most justly condemned by the authority of catholic council

Chapter 644

CHAPTER 18 [XIII.]

VICTOR’S DILEMMA AND FALL For he is hemmed in within terrible straits by those who make the natural inquiry: “Why has God visited on the soul so unjust a punishment as to have willed to relegate it into a body of sin, si

Chapter 645

CHAPTER 19 [XIV.]

VICTOR RELIES ON AMBIGUOUS SCRIPTURES The passages of Scripture, indeed, which he has adduced in the attempt to prove from them that God did not derive human souls by propagation from the primitive soul, but as in that f

Chapter 646

CHAPTER 20

VICTOR QUOTES SCRIPTURES FOR THEIR SILENCE, AND NEGLECTS THE BIBLICAL USAGE As for the passage which affirms that “God hath made of one blood all nations of men,” and that in which Adam says, “This is now bone of my bone

Chapter 647

CHAPTER 21 [XV.]

VICTOR’S PERPLEXITY AND FAILURE For these reasons I fail thus far to discover what this instructor has taught you, and what grounds you have for the gratitude you have lavished upon him. For the question remains just as

Chapter 648

CHAPTER 22 [XVI.]

PETER’S RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CASE OF VICTOR -- 759 of 1177 -- Far be it from you, my brother, that such views should be pleasant to you, or that you should either feel pleasure in having acquired them, or presume ever

Chapter 649

CHAPTER 23 [XVII.]

WHO THEY ARE THAT ARE NOT INJURED BY READING INJURIOUS BOOKS Forasmuch, then, as he has both commenced and terminated his books with such safeguards, and has placed on your shoulders the religious burden of their correct

Chapter 650

BOOK III

ADDRESSED TO VINCENTIUS VICTOR -- 762 of 1177 -- AUGUSTIN POINTS OUT TO VINCENTIUS VICTOR THE CORRECTIONS WHICH HE OUGHT TO MAKE IN HIS BOOKS CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUL, IF HE WISHES TO BE A CATHOLIC THOSE OPINI

Chapter 651

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

AUGUSTIN’S PURPOSE IN WRITING A S to that which I have thought it my duty to write to you, my much-loved son Victor, I would have you to entertain this above all other thoughts in your mind, if I seemed to despise you, t

Chapter 652

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

-- 763 of 1177 -- WHY VICTOR ASSUMED THE NAME OF VINCENTIUS. THE NAMES OF EVIL MEN OUGHT NEVER TO BE ASSUMED BY OTHER PERSONS The first thing which caused me some anxiety about you was the title which appeared in your b

Chapter 653

CHAPTER 3 [III.]

HE ENUMERATES THE ERRORS WHICH HE DESIRES TO HAVE AMENDED IN THE BOOKS OF VINCENTIUS VICTOR. THE FIRST ERROR If you ask me what the particular errors are, you may read what I have written to our brethren, that servant of

Chapter 654

CHAPTER 4 [IV.]

VICTOR’S SIMILE TO SHOW THAT GOD CAN CREATE BY BREATHING WITHOUT IMPARTATION OF HIS SUBSTANCE “But,” you say, “when we inflate a bag, no portion of our nature or quality is poured into the bag, while the very breath, by

Chapter 655

CHAPTER 5

EXAMINATION OF VICTOR’S SIMILE: DOES MAN GIVE OUT NOTHING BY BREATHING? Prove now yourself what I say, for your own satisfaction in your own case; emit breath by exhalation, and see whether you can continue long without

Chapter 656

CHAPTER 6

THE SIMILE REFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRUTH Well, now, you ought to have thought of all this when you were writing, and not to have brought God before our eyes in that favorite simile of yours, of inflated and inflatabl

Chapter 657

CHAPTER 7 [V.]

VICTOR APPARENTLY GIVES THE CREATIVE BREATH TO MAN ALSO But what is the meaning of that, which you have thought proper to add to this simile, with regard to the example of the blessed Elisha because he raised the dead by

Chapter 658

CHAPTER 8 [VI]

VICTOR’S SECOND ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK I. 26 [XVI.].) Do not, I pray you, believe, say, or teach that “Thus is God ever giving souls through infinite time, just as He who gives is Himself ever existent,” if you wish t

Chapter 659

CHAPTER 9 [VII.]

HIS THIRD ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK II. II [VII.].) Again, do not, I pray you, believe, say, or teach that “the soul deservedly lost something by the flesh, although it was of good merit previous to the flesh,” if you wi

Chapter 660

BOOK II. II [VII.].)

Neither believe, nor say, nor teach that “the soul, by means of the flesh, repairs its ancient condition, and is born again by the very means through which it had deserved to be polluted,” if you wish to be a catholic. I

Chapter 661

CHAPTER 11 [VIII.]

HIS FIFTH ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK I. 8 [VIII.] AND BOOK II. 12 [VIII.].) Neither believe, nor say, nor teach, if you wish to be a catholic, that “the soul deserved to be sinful before any sin.” It is, to be sure, an ex

Chapter 662

CHAPTER 12 [IX.]

HIS SIXTH ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK I. 10, 12 [IX., X.], AND IN BOOK II. 13, 14 [IX., X.].) If you wish to be a catholic, refrain from believing, or saying, or teaching that “infants which are forestalled by death before

Chapter 663

CHAPTER 13 [X]

HIS SEVENTH ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK II. 13 [IX.].) If you wish to be a catholic, do not venture to believe, to say, or to teach that “they whom the Lord has predestinated for baptism can be snatched away from his prede

Chapter 664

CHAPTER 14

HIS EIGHTH ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK II. 13 [IX.].) Refuse, if you wish to be a catholic, to believe, or to say, or to teach that “it is of infants, who are forestalled by death before they are born again in Christ, that

Chapter 665

CHAPTER 15 [XI.]

HIS NINTH ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK II. 14 [X.].) If you wish to be a catholic, I pray you, neither believe, nor say, nor teach that “there are some mansions outside the kingdom of God which the Lord said were in His Fat

Chapter 666

CHAPTER 16

GOD RULES EVERYWHERE: AND YET THE “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” MAY NOT BE EVERYWHERE You may, however, not improbably contend that all things, it is true, belong to the kingdom of God, because He reigns in heaven, reigns on earth

Chapter 667

CHAPTER 17

WHERE THE KINGDOM OF GOD MAY BE UNDERSTOOD TO BE Now, they who say this, do no doubt seem to themselves to say a good deal, because theirs is only a slight and careless view of Scripture; nor do they understand in what s

Chapter 668

CHAPTER 18 [XII.]

HIS TENTH ERROR. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK I. 13 [XI.] AND BOOK II. 15 [XI.] Again, if you wish to be a catholic, I pray you, neither believe, nor say, nor teach that “the sacrifice of Christians ought to be offered in behalf o

Chapter 669

BOOK II. 16.)

Once more, if you desire to be a catholic, do not believe, or say, or teach that “some of those persons who have departed this life without Christ’s baptism, do not in the meantime go into the kingdom of heaven, but into

Chapter 670

CHAPTER 20 [XIV]

AUGUSTIN CALLS ON VICTOR TO CORRECT HIS ERRORS. (SEE ABOVE IN BOOK II. 22 [XVI.].) Now these errors, and such as these, with whatever others you may perhaps be able to discover in your books on a more attentive and leisu

Chapter 671

CHAPTER 21

AUGUSTIN COMPLIMENTS VICTOR’S TALENTS AND DILIGENCE -- 782 of 1177 -- It would take me too long a time to handle and discuss fully all the points which I wish to be amended in your books, or rather in your own self

Chapter 672

CHAPTER 22 [XV.]

A SUMMARY RECAPITULATION OF THE ERRORS OF VICTOR What these particular errors are, I have, to the best of my ability, already explained. But I will run over them again with a brief recapitulation. One is, “That God did n

Chapter 673

CHAPTER 23

OBSTINACY MAKES THE HERETIC Well, now, as for these eleven propositions, they are extremely and manifestly perverse and opposed to the catholic faith; so that you should no longer hesitate to root them out and cast them

Chapter 674

BOOK IV

ADDRESSED TO VINCENTIUS VICTOR HE FIRST SHOWS, THAT HIS HESITATION ON THE SUBJECT OF THE ORIGIN OF SOULS WAS UNDESERVEDLY BLAMED, AND THAT HE WAS WRONGLY COMPARED WITH CATTLE, BECAUSE HE HAD REFRAINED FROM ANY RASH CONCL

Chapter 675

CHAPTER 1 [I.]

THE PERSONAL CHARACTER OF THIS BOOK I M UST now, in the sequel of my treatise, request you to hear what I desire to say to you concerning myself — as I best can; or rather as He shall enable me in whose hand are both our

Chapter 676

CHAPTER 2 [II.]

THE POINTS WHICH VICTOR THOUGHT BLAMEWORTHY IN AUGUSTIN And they are these: The first, that I did not venture to make a definite statement touching the origin of those souls which have been given, or are being given, to

Chapter 677

CHAPTER 3

HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW OF THE NATURE OF THE BODY? Well, now, this extremely lucid and eloquent castigation which you have inflicted on our ignorance lays you so strictly under the necessity of knowing every possible thing w

Chapter 678

CHAPTER 4 [III.]

IS THE QUESTION OF BREATH ONE THAT CONCERNS THE SOUL, OR BODY, OR WHAT? But to what, in your judgment, does that which we discussed in our former book concerning the breath of man belong? — to the nature of the soul, see

Chapter 679

CHAPTER 5 [IV.]

GOD ALONE CAN TEACH WHENCE SOULS COME Now with respect to the question between us, I confess to your loving self I greatly desire to know one of two things if I can, — either concerning the origin of souls, of which I am

Chapter 680

CHAPTER 6 [V.]

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE BODY ARE SUFFICIENTLY MYSTERIOUS, AND YET NOT HIGHER THAN THOSE OF THE SOUL What do you say to the statement, that amongst the works of God there are some which it is more difficult to k

Chapter 681

CHAPTER 7 [VI.]

WE OFTEN NEED MORE TEACHING AS TO WHAT IS MOST INTIMATELY OURS THAN AS TO WHAT IS FURTHER FROM US But I have to put to you a far wider question arising out of our subject. Why should only a very few know why all men do w

Chapter 682

CHAPTER 8

WE HAVE NO MEMORY OF OUR CREATION And whosoever shall have attempted to fathom such knowledge may not improperly have addressed to him the words we have before quoted, “Seek not out the things that are too high for thee,

Chapter 683

CHAPTER 9 [VII.]

OUR IGNORANCE OF OURSELVES ILLUSTRATED BY THE REMARKABLE MEMORY OF ONE SIMPLICIUS Observe now, while we are, while we live, while we know that we live, while we are certain that we possess memory, understanding, and will

Chapter 684

CHAPTER 12 [VIII.]

THE APOSTLE PAUL COULD KNOW THE THIRD HEAVEN AND PARADISE, BUT NOT WHETHER HE WAS IN THE BODY OR NOT See therefore how many facts of our nature, not of the past but of the present time, and not pertaining to the body onl

Chapter 685

CHAPTER 13 [IX.]

IN WHAT SENSE THE HOLY GHOST IS SAID TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR US Do you perhaps also think me ridiculous and like the irrational beasts, because I said, “We know not what we should pray for as we ought”? Perhaps this is

Chapter 686

CHAPTER 14 [X.]

-- 800 of 1177 -- IT IS MORE EXCELLENT TO KNOW THAT THE FLESH WILL RISE AGAIN AND LIVE FOR EVERMORE, THAN TO LEARN WHATEVER SCIENTIFIC MEN HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEACH US CONCERNING ITS NATURE But although the questions whic

Chapter 687

CHAPTER 15 [XI.]

WE MUST NOT BE WISE ABOVE WHAT IS WRITTEN But then, again, you are mistaken in this matter; for the passages of Scripture which you chose to produce for the solution of this question of yours, do not prove the point. For

Chapter 688

CHAPTER 16

IGNORANCE IS BETTER THAN ERROR. PREDESTINATION TO ETERNAL LIFE, AND PREDESTINATION TO ETERNAL DEATH Do not, my son, let senile timidity displease your youthful confidence. For my own part, indeed, if I proved unequal, ei

Chapter 689

CHAPTER 17 [XII.]

A TWOFOLD QUESTION TO BE TREATED CONCERNING THE SOUL; IS IT “BODY”? AND IS IT “SPIRIT”? WHAT BODY IS And now, as far as the Lord vouchsafes to enable me, I must reply also to that allegation of yours, in which, speaking

Chapter 690

CHAPTER 18

THE FIRST QUESTION, WHETHER THE SOUL IS CORPOREAL; BREATH AND WIND, NOTHING ELSE THAN AIR IN MOTION Now whether the soul is such a substance, is an extremely nice and subtle question. You, indeed, with a promptitude for

Chapter 691

CHAPTER 19 [XIII.]

WHETHER THE SOUL IS A SPIRIT But again, why you would have the soul to be a body, and refuse to deem it a spirit, I cannot see. For if it is not a spirit, on the ground that the apostle named it with distinction from the

Chapter 692

CHAPTER 20 [XIV.]

THE BODY DOES NOT RECEIVE GOD’S IMAGE But I pass by all this, lest the discussion between us should degenerate into one of names rather than things. Let us, then, see whether the inner man be the soul, or the spirit, or

Chapter 693

CHAPTER 21 [XV.]

RECOGNITION AND FORM BELONG TO SOULS AS WELL AS BODIES But you say: “If the soul is incorporeal, what was it that the rich man saw in hell? He certainly recognized Lazarus; he did [not] know Abraham. Whence arose to him

Chapter 694

CHAPTER 22

NAMES DO NOT IMPLY CORPOREITY -- 809 of 1177 -- You also say, that “names cease to be given, when form is not distinguished; and that, where there is no designation of persons, there is no giving of names.” Your aim is

Chapter 695

CHAPTER 23 [XVI.]

FIGURATIVE SPEECH MUST NOT BE TAKEN LITERALLY “In short,” you say, “members are in this parable ascribed to the soul, as if it were really a body.” You will have it, that “by the eye the whole head is understood,” becaus

Chapter 696

CHAPTER 24

ABRAHAM’S BOSOM WHAT IT MEANS As to your supposing that “the Abraham’s bosom referred to is corporeal,” and your further assertion, that “by it is meant his whole body,” I fear that you must be regarded (even in such a s

Chapter 697

CHAPTER 25 [XVII.]

THE DISEMBODIED SOUL MAY THINK OF ITSELF UNDER A BODILY FORM -- 811 of 1177 -- You must not, however, suppose that I say all this as if denying it to be possible that the soul of a dead man, like a person asleep, may t

Chapter 698

CHAPTER 26 [XVIII.]

ST. PERPETUA SEEMED TO HERSELF, IN SOME DREAMS, TO HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO A MAN, AND THEN HAVE WRESTLED WITH A CERTAIN EGYPTIAN Some notice must be taken of sundry accounts of martyrs’ visions, because you have thought pr

Chapter 699

CHAPTER 27

IS THE SOUL WOUNDED WHEN THE BODY IS WOUNDED? What, then, if some such thing is exhibited among the departed; and souls recognize themselves among them, not, indeed, by bodies, but by the semblances of bodies? Now, when

Chapter 700

CHAPTER 28

18 THE SOUL DEFORMED BY THE BODY’S IMPERFECTIONS? Now, again, what means it that you say, “The soul acquires form from the body, and grows and extends with the increase of the body,” without keeping in view what a monstr

Chapter 701

CHAPTER 29 [XIX.]

DOES THE SOUL TAKE THE BODY’S CLOTHES ALSO AWAY WITH IT? If, indeed, the soul were body, and the form were also a corporeal figure in which it sees itself in dreams, on the ground that it received its expression from the

Chapter 702

CHAPTER 30

IS CORPOREITY NECESSARY FOR RECOGNITION? But who is able to trace out what capacity of recognition even souls which are not good possess after death when relieved of the corruptible bodies, so as to be able by an inner s

Chapter 703

CHAPTER 31 [XX.]

MODES OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE SOUL DISTINGUISHED Forasmuch, then, as there is one function in the soul, by which we perceive real bodies, which we do by the five bodily senses; another, which enables us to discern apart from

Chapter 704

CHAPTER 32

INCONSISTENCY OF GIVING THE SOUL ALL THE PARTS OF SEX AND YET NO SEX For that form of the soul, whether masculine or feminine, which has the distinction of members characteristic of man and woman, being no semblance mere

Chapter 705

CHAPTER 33

THE PHOENIX AFTER DEATH COMING TO LIFE AGAIN Now, what you say about the phoenix has nothing whatever to do with the subject before us. For the phoenix symbolizes the resurrection of the body; it does not do away with th

Chapter 706

CHAPTER 34 [XXI.]

PROPHETIC VISIONS Not every semblance of a body is itself a body. Fall asleep and you will see this; but when you awake again, carefully discern what it is you have seen. For in your dreams you will appear to yourself as

Chapter 707

CHAPTER 35

DO ANGELS APPEAR TO MEN IN REAL BODIES? It would, however, require too lengthy a discourse to enter very carefully on a discussion concerning this kind of corporeal semblances; whether angels even, either good ones or ev

Chapter 708

CHAPTER 36 [XXII]

HE PASSES ON TO THE SECOND QUESTION ABOUT THE SOUL, WHETHER IT IS CALLED SPIRIT -- 821 of 1177 -- It now remains for me to show how it is that while the designation spirit is rightly predicated of a part of the soul, n

Chapter 709

CHAPTER 37 [XXIII.]

WIDE AND NARROW SENSE OF THE WORD “SPIRIT.” But now, with a view to our easier elucidation, I beg you to observe that what is the soul is also designated spirit in the scripture which narrates an incident in our Lord’s d

Chapter 710

CHAPTER 38 [XXIV.]

VICTOR’S CHIEF ERRORS AGAIN POINTED OUT Wherefore if you take these books, which I have with a sincere and affectionate interest written in answer to your opinions, and read them with a reciprocal love for me; if you att

Chapter 711

CHAPTER 39

CONCLUDING ADMONITION If, as may possibly be the case, you desire to know whether there are many other points which appear to me to require emendation in your books, it cannot be troublesome for you to come to me, — not,

Chapter 712

BOOK 1

AUGUSTIN REPLIES TO A LETTER SENT BY JULIAN, AS IT WAS SAID, TO ROME; AND FIRST OF ALL VINDICATES THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE FROM HIS CALUMNIES; THEN DISCOVERS AND CONFUTES THE HERETICAL SENSE OF THE PELAGIANS HIDDEN IN THAT

Chapter 713

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION: ADDRESS TO BONIFACE I HAD indeed known you by the praise of your renowned fame; and by very numerous and veracious messengers I had learned how full you were of the grace of God, most blessed and venerable

Chapter 714

CHAPTER 2

WHY HERETICAL WRITINGS MUST BE ANSWERED F OR the new heretics, enemies of the grace of God which is given by Jesus Christ our Lord to small and great, although they are already shown more openly to need to be avoided by

Chapter 715

CHAPTER 3

-- 829 of 1177 -- WHY HE ADDRESSES HIS BOOK TO BONIFACE. B UT these words which I am answering to their two letters, — the one, to wit, which Julian is said to have sent to Rome, that by its means, as I believe, he migh

Chapter 716

CHAPTER 4

THE CALUMNY OF JULIAN, — THAT THE CATHOLICS TEACH THAT FREE WILL IS TAKEN AWAY BY ADAM’S SIN. Let us now, therefore, reply to Julian’s letter. “Those Manicheans say,” says he, “with whom now we do not communicate, — that

Chapter 717

CHAPTER 5

FREE CHOICE DID NOT PERISH WITH ADAM’S SIN. WHAT FREEDOM DID PERISH. But in defending free will they hasten to confide rather in it for doing righteousness than in God’s aid, and to glory every one in himself, and not in

Chapter 718

CHAPTER 6

GRACE IS NOT GIVEN ACCORDING TO MERITS. But lest perchance they say that they are aided to this, — that they may “have power to become the sons of God,” but that they may deserve to receive this power they have first “re

Chapter 719

CHAPTER 7

HE CONCLUDES THAT HE DOES NOT DEPRIVE THE WICKED OF FREE WILL. It is not, therefore, true, as some affirm that we say, and as that correspondent of your ventures moreover to write, that “all are forced into sin,” as if t

Chapter 720

CHAPTER 8

THE PELAGIANS DEMOLISH FREE WILL. These proud and haughty people will not have this; and yet they do not maintain free will by purifying it, but demolish it by exaggerating it. For they are angry with us who say these th

Chapter 721

CHAPTER 9

ANOTHER CALUMNY OF JULIAN, THAT “IT IS SAID THAT MARRIAGE IS NOT APPOINTED BY GOD.” But now let us see what follows. “They say also,” he says, “that those marriages which are now celebrated were not appointed by God, and

Chapter 722

CHAPTER 10

THE THIRD CALUMNY, — THE ASSERTION THAT CONJUGAL INTERCOURSE IS CONDEMNED. “They say also,” says he, “that sexual impulse and the intercourse of married people were devised by the devil, and that therefore those who are

Chapter 723

CHAPTER 11

THE PURPOSE OF THE PELAGIANS IN PRAISING THE INNOCENCE OF CONJUGAL INTERCOURSE. -- 835 of 1177 -- Yet what it is they wish, what they purpose, to what result they are striving to bring the matter, the words that are ad