EnchiridionOnFaith，Hope，andLovebySaintAugustineCHAPTERI
TheOccasionandPurposeofthis”Manual”
1。Icannotsay，mydearestsonLaurence，howmuchyourlearningpleasesme，andhowmuchIdesirethatyoushouldbewise——thoughnotoneofthoseofwhomitissaid:”Whereisthewise？
Whereisthescribe？Whereisthedisputantofthisworld？HathnotGodmadefoolishthewisdomofthisworld？”[1]Rather，youshouldbeoneofthoseofwhomitiswritten，”Themultitudeofthewiseisthehealthoftheworld”[2]；andalsoyoushouldbethekindofmantheapostlewishesthosementobetowhomhesaid，[3]”Iwouldhaveyoubewiseingoodnessandsimpleinevil。”[4]
2。Humanwisdomconsistsinpiety。ThisyouhaveinthebookofthesaintlyJob，fortherehewritesthatWisdomherselfsaidtoman，”Behold，pietyiswisdom。”[5]If，then，youaskwhatkindofpietyshewasspeakingof，youwillfinditmoredistinctlydesignatedbytheGreektermqeosebeia，literally，”theserviceofGod。”TheGreekhasstillanotherwordfor”piety，”
ensebeia，whichalsosignifies”properservice。”ThistooreferschieflytotheserviceofGod。Butnotermisbetterthanqeosebeia，whichclearlyexpressestheideaoftheman’sserviceofGodasthesourceofhumanwisdom。
Whenyouaskmetobebrief，youdonotexpectmetospeakofgreatissuesinafewsentences，doyou？Isnotthisratherwhatyoudesire:abriefsummaryorashorttreatiseonthepropermodeofworshipping[serving]God？
3。IfIshouldanswer，”Godshouldbeworshippedinfaith，hope，love，”youwoulddoubtlessreplythatthiswasshorterthanyouwished，andmightthenbegforabriefexplicationofwhateachofthesethreemeans:Whatshouldbebelieved，whatshouldbehopedfor，andwhatshouldbeloved？IfIshouldanswerthesequestions，youwouldthenhaveeverythingyouaskedforinyourletter。Ifyouhavekeptacopyofit，youcaneasilyrefertoit。Ifnot，recallyourquestionsasIdiscussthem。
4。Itisyourdesire，asyouwrote，tohavefrommeabook，asortofenchiridion，[6]asitmightbecalled——somethingtohave”athand”——thatdealswithyourquestions。Whatistobesoughtafteraboveallelse？What，inviewofthediversheresies，istobeavoidedaboveallelse？Howfardoesreasonsupportreligion；orwhathappenstoreasonwhentheissuesinvolvedconcernfaithalone；whatisthebeginningandendofourendeavor？Whatisthemostcomprehensiveofallexplanations？
Whatisthecertainanddistinctivefoundationofthecatholicfaith？Youwouldhavetheanswerstoallthesequestionsifyoureallyunderstoodwhatamanshouldbelieve，whatheshouldhopefor，andwhatheoughttolove。Forthesearethechiefthings——
indeed，theonlythings——toseekforinreligion。HewhoturnsawayfromthemiseitheracompletestrangertothenameofChristorelseheisaheretic。Thingsthatariseinsensoryexperience，orthatareanalyzedbytheintellect，maybedemonstratedbythereason。Butinmattersthatpassbeyondthescopeofthephysicalsenses，whichwehavenotsettledbyourownunderstanding，andcannot——herewemustbelieve，withouthesitation，thewitnessofthosemenbywhomtheScripturesrightlycalleddivinewerecomposed，menwhoweredivinelyaidedintheirsensesandtheirmindstoseeandeventoforeseethethingsaboutwhichtheytestify。
[5]。But，asthisfaith，whichworksbylove，[7]beginstopenetratethesoul，ittends，throughthevitalpowerofgoodness，tochangeintosight，sothattheholyandperfectinheartcatchglimpsesofthatineffablebeautywhosefullvisionisourhighesthappiness。Here，then，surely，istheanswertoyourquestionaboutthebeginningandtheendofourendeavor。Webegininfaith，weareperfectedinsight。[8]Thislikewiseisthemostcomprehensiveofallexplanations。Asforthecertainanddistinctivefoundationofthecatholicfaith，itisChrist。”Forotherfoundation，”saidtheapostle，”cannomanlaysavethatwhichhasbeenlaid，whichisChristJesus。”[9]Norshoulditbedeniedthatthisisthedistinctivebasisofthecatholicfaith，justbecauseitappearsthatitiscommontousandtocertainhereticsaswell。ForifwethinkcarefullyaboutthemeaningofChrist，weshallseethatamongsomeofthehereticswhowishtobecalledChristians，the_name_ofChristisheldinhonor，buttherealityitselfisnotamongthem。Tomakeallthisplainwouldtaketoolong——becausewewouldthenhavetoreviewalltheheresiesthathavebeen，theonesthatnowexist，andthosewhichcouldexistunderthelabel”Christian，”andwewouldhavetoshowthatwhatwehavesaidofallistrueofeachofthem。
Suchadiscussionwouldtakesomanyvolumesastomakeitseemendless。[10]
6。Youhaveaskedforanenchiridion，somethingyoucouldcarryaround，notjustbaggageforyourbookshelf。Thereforewemayreturntothesethreewaysinwhich，aswesaid，Godshouldbeserved:faith，hope，love。Itiseasyto_say_whatoneoughttobelieve，whattohopefor，andwhattolove。Buttodefendourdoctrinesagainstthecalumniesofthosewhothinkdifferentlyisamoredifficultanddetailedtask。Ifoneistohavethiswisdom，itisnotenoughjusttoputanenchiridioninthehand。
Itisalsonecessarythatagreatzealbekindledintheheart。
CHAPTERII
TheCreedandtheLord’sPrayerasGuidestotheInterpretationoftheTheologicalVirtuesofFaith，Hope，andLove7。Letusbegin，forexample，withtheSymbol[11]andtheLord’sPrayer。Whatisshortertohearortoread？Whatismoreeasilymemorized？Sincethroughsinthehumanracestoodgrievouslyburdenedbygreatmiseryandindeepneedofmercy，aprophet，preachingofthetimeofGod’sgrace，said，”AnditshallbethatallwhoinvoketheLord’snamewillbesaved。”[12]Thus，wehavetheLord’sPrayer。Later，theapostle，whenhewishedtocommendthissamegrace，rememberedthisprophetictestimonyandpromptlyadded，”Buthowshalltheyinvokehiminwhomtheyhavenotbelieved？”[13]Thus，wehavetheSymbol。Inthesetwowehavethethreetheologicalvirtuesworkingtogether:faithbelieves；hopeandlovepray。Yetwithoutfaithnothingelseispossible；thusfaithpraystoo。This，then，isthemeaningofthesaying，”Howshalltheyinvokehiminwhomtheyhavenotbelieved？”
8。Now，isitpossibletohopeforwhatwedonotbelievein？Wecan，ofcourse，believeinsomethingthatwedonothopefor。Whoamongthefaithfuldoesnotbelieveinthepunishmentoftheimpious？Yethedoesnothopeforit，andwhoeverbelievesthatsuchapunishmentisthreateninghimanddrawsbackinhorrorfromitismorerightlysaidtofearthantohope。Apoet，distinguishingbetweenthesetwofeelings，said，”Letthosewhodreadbeallowedtohope，”[14]
butanotherpoet，andabetterone，didnotputitrightly:”Here，ifIcouldhavehopedfor[i。e。，foreseen]
suchagrievousblow……”[15]
Indeed，somegrammariansusethisasanexampleofinaccuratelanguageandcomment，”Hesaid’tohope’whenheshouldhavesaid’tofear。’”
Thereforefaithmayrefertoevilthingsaswellastogood，sincewebelieveinboththegoodandevil。Yetfaithisgood，notevil。Moreover，faithreferstothingspastandpresentandfuture。ForwebelievethatChristdied；thisisapastevent。
WebelievethathesittethattheFather’srighthand；thisispresent。Webelievethathewillcomeasourjudge；thisisfuture。Again，faithhastodowithourownaffairsandwiththoseofothers。Foreveryonebelieves，bothabouthimselfandotherpersons——andaboutthingsaswell——thatatsometimehebegantoexistandthathehasnotexistedforever。Thus，notonlyaboutmen，butevenaboutangels，webelievemanythingsthathaveabearingonreligion。
Buthopedealsonlywithgoodthings，andonlywiththosewhichlieinthefuture，andwhichpertaintothemanwhocherishesthehope。Sincethisisso，faithmustbedistinguishedfromhope:theyaredifferenttermsandlikewisedifferentconcepts。Yetfaithandhopehavethisincommon:theyrefertowhatisnotseen，whetherthisunseenisbelievedinorhopedfor。
ThusintheEpistletotheHebrews，whichisusedbytheenlighteneddefendersofthecatholicruleoffaith，faithissaidtobe”theconvictionofthingsnotseen。”[16]However，whenamanmaintainsthatneitherwordsnorwitnessesnorevenarguments，butonlytheevidenceofpresentexperience，determinehisfaith，hestilloughtnottobecalledabsurdortold，”Youhaveseen；
thereforeyouhavenotbelieved。”Foritdoesnotfollowthatunlessathingisnotseenitcannotbebelieved。Stillitisbetterforustousetheterm”faith，”aswearetaughtin”thesacredeloquence，”[17]torefertothingsnotseen。Andasforhope，theapostlesays:”Hopethatisseenisnothope。Forifamanseesathing，whydoeshehopeforit？If，however，wehopeforwhatwedonotsee，wethenwaitforitinpatience。”[18]
When，therefore，ourgoodisbelievedtobefuture，thisisthesamethingashopingforit。
What，then，shallIsayoflove，withoutwhichfaithcandonothing？Therecanbenotruehopewithoutlove。Indeed，astheapostleJamessays，”Eventhedemonsbelieveandtremble。”[19]
Yettheyneitherhopenorlove。Instead，believingaswedothatwhatwehopeforandloveiscomingtopass，theytremble。
Therefore，theapostlePaulapprovesandcommendsthefaiththatworksbyloveandthatcannotexistwithouthope。Thusitisthatloveisnotwithouthope，hopeisnotwithoutlove，andneitherhopenorlovearewithoutfaith。
CHAPTERIII
GodtheCreatorofAll；
andtheGoodnessofAllCreation9。Wherefore，whenitisaskedwhatweoughttobelieveinmattersofreligion，theanswerisnottobesoughtintheexplorationofthenatureofthings[rerumnatura]，afterthemannerofthosewhomtheGreekscalled”physicists。”[20]NorshouldwebedismayedifChristiansareignorantaboutthepropertiesandthenumberofthebasicelementsofnature，oraboutthemotion，order，anddeviationsofthestars，themapoftheheavens，thekindsandnatureofanimals，plants，stones，springs，rivers，andmountains；aboutthedivisionsofspaceandtime，aboutthesignsofimpendingstorms，andthemyriadotherthingswhichthese”physicists”havecometounderstand，orthinktheyhave。Foreventhesemen，giftedwithsuchsuperiorinsight，withtheirardorinstudyandtheirabundantleisure，exploringsomeofthesemattersbyhumanconjectureandothersthroughhistoricalinquiry，havenotyetlearnedeverythingthereistoknow。Forthatmatter，manyofthethingstheyaresoproudtohavediscoveredaremoreoftenmattersofopinionthanofverifiedknowledge。
FortheChristian，itisenoughtobelievethatthecauseofallcreatedthings，whetherinheavenoronearth，whethervisibleorinvisible，isnothingotherthanthegoodnessoftheCreator，whoistheoneandthetrueGod。[21]Further，theChristianbelievesthatnothingexistssaveGodhimselfandwhatcomesfromhim；andhebelievesthatGodistriune，i。e。，theFather，andtheSonbegottenoftheFather，andtheHolySpiritproceedingfromthesameFather，butoneandthesameSpiritoftheFatherandtheSon。
10。BythisTrinity，supremelyandequallyandimmutablygood，wereallthingscreated。Buttheywerenotcreatedsupremely，equally，norimmutablygood。Still，eachsinglecreatedthingisgood，andtakenasawholetheyareverygood，becausetogethertheyconstituteauniverseofadmirablebeauty。
11。Inthisuniverse，evenwhatiscalledevil，whenitisrightlyorderedandkeptinitsplace，commendsthegoodmoreeminently，sincegoodthingsyieldgreaterpleasureandpraisewhencomparedtothebadthings。FortheOmnipotentGod，whomeventheheathenacknowledgeastheSupremePoweroverall，wouldnotallowanyevilinhisworks，unlessinhisomnipotenceandgoodness，astheSupremeGood，heisabletobringforthgoodoutofevil。What，afterall，isanythingwecallevilexcepttheprivationofgood？Inanimalbodies，forinstance，sicknessandwoundsarenothingbuttheprivationofhealth。Whenacureiseffected，theevilswhichwerepresenti。e。，thesicknessandthewoundsdonotretreatandgoelsewhere。Rather，theysimplydonotexistanymore。Forsuchevilisnotasubstance；thewoundorthediseaseisadefectofthebodilysubstancewhich，asasubstance，isgood。Evil，then，isanaccident，i。e。，aprivationofthatgoodwhichiscalledhealth。Thus，whateverdefectsthereareinasoulareprivationsofanaturalgood。Whenacuretakesplace，theyarenottransferredelsewherebut，sincetheyarenolongerpresentinthestateofhealth，theynolongerexistatall。[22]
CHAPTERIV
TheProblemofEvil12。Allofnature，therefore，isgood，sincetheCreatorofallnatureissupremelygood。ButnatureisnotsupremelyandimmutablygoodasistheCreatorofit。Thusthegoodincreatedthingscanbediminishedandaugmented。Forgoodtobediminishedisevil；still，howevermuchitisdiminished，somethingmustremainofitsoriginalnatureaslongasitexistsatall。Fornomatterwhatkindorhoweverinsignificantathingmaybe，thegoodwhichisits”nature”cannotbedestroyedwithoutthethingitselfbeingdestroyed。Thereisgoodreason，therefore，topraiseanuncorruptedthing，andifitwereindeedanincorruptiblethingwhichcouldnotbedestroyed，itwoulddoubtlessbeallthemoreworthyofpraise。When，however，athingiscorrupted，itscorruptionisanevilbecauseitis，byjustsomuch，aprivationofthegood。Wherethereisnoprivationofthegood，thereisnoevil。Wherethereisevil，thereisacorrespondingdiminutionofthegood。Aslong，then，asathingisbeingcorrupted，thereisgoodinitofwhichitisbeingdeprived；andinthisprocess，ifsomethingofitsbeingremainsthatcannotbefurthercorrupted，thiswillthenbeanincorruptibleentity[naturaincorruptibilis]，andtothisgreatgooditwillhavecomethroughtheprocessofcorruption。Butevenifthecorruptionisnotarrested，itstilldoesnotceasehavingsomegoodofwhichitcannotbefurtherdeprived。If，however，thecorruptioncomestobetotalandentire，thereisnogoodlefteither，becauseitisnolongeranentityatall。Whereforecorruptioncannotconsumethegoodwithoutalsoconsumingthethingitself。Everyactualentity[natura]isthereforegood；agreatergoodifitcannotbecorrupted，alessergoodifitcanbe。Yetonlythefoolishandunknowingcandenythatitisstillgoodevenwhencorrupted。
Wheneverathingisconsumedbycorruption，noteventhecorruptionremains，foritisnothinginitself，havingnosubsistentbeinginwhichtoexist。
13。Fromthisitfollowsthatthereisnothingtobecalledevilifthereisnothinggood。Agoodthatwhollylacksanevilaspectisentirelygood。Wherethereissomeevilinathing，itsgoodisdefectiveordefectible。Thustherecanbenoevilwherethereisnogood。Thisleadsustoasurprisingconclusion:that，sinceeverybeing，insofarasitisabeing，isgood，ifwethensaythatadefectivethingisbad，itwouldseemtomeanthatwearesayingthatwhatisevilisgood，thatonlywhatisgoodiseverevilandthatthereisnoevilapartfromsomethinggood。
Thisisbecauseeveryactualentityisgood[omnisnaturabonumest]。Nothingevilexists_initself_，butonlyasanevilaspectofsomeactualentity。Therefore，therecanbenothingevilexceptsomethinggood。Absurdasthissounds，neverthelessthelogicalconnectionsoftheargumentcompelustoitasinevitable。
Atthesametime，wemusttakewarninglestweincurthepropheticjudgmentwhichreads:”Woetothosewhocallevilgoodandgoodevil:whocalldarknesslightandlightdarkness；whocallthebittersweetandthesweetbitter。”[23]MoreovertheLordhimselfsaith:”Anevilmanbringsfortheviloutoftheeviltreasureofhisheart。”[24]What，then，isanevilmanbutanevilentity[naturamala]，sincemanisanentity？Now，ifamanissomethinggoodbecauseheisanentity，what，then，isabadmanexceptanevilgood？When，however，wedistinguishbetweenthesetwoconcepts，wefindthatthebadmanisnotbadbecauseheisaman，norishegoodbecauseheiswicked。Rather，heisagoodentityinsofarasheisaman，evilinsofarasheiswicked。
Therefore，ifanyonesaysthatsimplytobeamanisevil，orthattobeawickedmanisgood，herightlyfallsunderthepropheticjudgment:”Woetohimwhocallsevilgoodandgoodevil。”ForthisamountstofindingfaultwithGod’swork，becausemanisanentityofGod’screation。Italsomeansthatwearepraisingthedefectsinthisparticularman_because_heisawickedperson。Thus，everyentity，evenifitisadefectiveone，insofarasitisanentity，isgood。Insofarasitisdefective，itisevil。
14。Actually，then，inthesetwocontrarieswecallevilandgood，theruleofthelogiciansfailstoapply。[25]Noweatherisbothdarkandbrightatthesametime；nofoodordrinkisbothsweetandsouratthesametime；nobodyis，atthesametimeandplace，bothwhiteandblack，nordeformedandwell-formedatthesametime。Thisprincipleisfoundtoapplyinalmostalldisjunctions:twocontrariescannotcoexistinasinglething。
Nevertheless，whilenoonemaintainsthatgoodandevilarenotcontraries，theycannotonlycoexist，buttheevilcannotexistatallwithoutthegood，orinathingthatisnotagood。Ontheotherhand，thegoodcanexistwithoutevil。Foramanoranangelcouldexistandyetnotbewicked，whereastherecannotbewickednessexceptinamanoranangel。Itisgoodtobeaman，goodtobeanangel；buteviltobewicked。Thesetwocontrariesarethuscoexistent，sothatiftherewerenogoodinwhatisevil，thentheevilsimplycouldnotbe，sinceitcanhavenomodeinwhichtoexist，noranysourcefromwhichcorruptionsprings，unlessitbesomethingcorruptible。Unlessthissomethingisgood，itcannotbecorrupted，becausecorruptionisnothingmorethanthedeprivationofthegood。Evils，therefore，havetheirsourceinthegood，andunlesstheyareparasiticonsomethinggood，theyarenotanythingatall。Thereisnoothersourcewhenceanevilthingcancometobe。Ifthisisthecase，then，insofarasathingisanentity，itisunquestionablygood。Ifitisanincorruptibleentity，itisagreatgood。Butevenifitisacorruptibleentity，itstillhasnomodeofexistenceexceptasanaspectofsomethingthatisgood。Onlybycorruptingsomethinggoodcancorruptioninflictinjury。
15。Butwhenwesaythatevilhasitssourceinthegood，donotsupposethatthisdeniesourLord’sjudgment:”Agoodtreecannotbearevilfruit。”[26]Thiscannotbe，evenastheTruthhimselfdeclareth:”Mendonotgathergrapesfromthorns，”sincethornscannotbeargrapes。Nevertheless，fromgoodsoilwecanseebothvinesandthornsspringup。Likewise，justasabadtreedoesnotgrowgoodfruit，soalsoanevilwilldoesnotproducegooddeeds。Fromahumannature，whichisgoodinitself，therecanspringfortheitheragoodoranevilwill。Therewasnootherplacefromwhenceevilcouldhaveariseninthefirstplaceexceptfromthenature——goodinitself——ofanangeloraman。
ThisiswhatourLordhimselfmostclearlyshowsinthepassageaboutthetreesandthefruits，forhesaid:”Makethetreegoodandthefruitswillbegood，ormakethetreebadanditsfruitswillbebad。”[27]Thisiswarningenoughthatbadfruitcannotgrowonagoodtreenorgoodfruitonabadone。Yetfromthatsameearthtowhichhewasreferring，bothsortsoftreescangrow。
CHAPTERV
TheKindsandDegreesofError16。Thisbeingthecase，whenthatverseofMaro’sgivesuspleasure，”Happyishewhocanunderstandthecausesofthings，”[28]
itstilldoesnotfollowthatourfelicitydependsuponourknowingthecausesofthegreatphysicalprocessesintheworld，whicharehiddeninthesecretmazeofnature，”Whenceearthquakes，whoseforceswellstheseatoflood，sothattheybursttheirboundsandthensubsideagain，”[29]
andothersuchthingsasthis。
Butweoughttoknowthecausesofgoodandevilinthings，atleastasfarasmenmaydosointhislife，filledasitiswitherrorsanddistress，inordertoavoidtheseerrorsanddistresses。Wemustalwaysaimatthattruefelicitywhereinmiserydoesnotdistract，norerrormislead。Ifitisagoodthingtounderstandthecausesofphysicalmotion，thereisnothingofgreaterconcerninthesematterswhichweoughttounderstandthanourownhealth。Butwhenweareinignoranceofsuchthings，weseekoutaphysician，whohasseenhowthesecretsofheavenandearthstillremainhiddenfromus，andwhatpatiencetheremustbeinunknowing。
17。Althoughweshouldbewareoferrorwhereverpossible，notonlyingreatmattersbutinsmallonesaswell，itisimpossiblenottobeignorantofmanythings。Yetitdoesnotfollowthatonefallsintoerroroutofignorancealone。Ifsomeonethinksheknowswhathedoesnotknow，ifheapprovesastruewhatisactuallyfalse，thistheniserror，inthepropersenseoftheterm。Obviously，muchdependsonthequestioninvolvedintheerror，forinoneandthesamequestiononenaturallypreferstheinstructedtotheignorant，theexperttotheblunderer，andthiswithgoodreason。Inacomplexissue，however，aswhenonemanknowsonethingandanothermanknowssomethingelse，iftheformerknowledgeismoreusefulandthelatterislessusefulorevenharmful，whointhislattercasewouldnotpreferignorance？Therearesomethings，afterall，thatitisbetternottoknowthantoknow。Likewise，thereissometimesprofitinerror——butonajourney，notinmorals。[30]
Thissortofthinghappenedtousonce，whenwemistookthewayatacrossroadsanddidnotgobytheplacewhereanarmedgangofDonatistslayinwaittoambushus。Wefinallyarrivedattheplacewhereweweregoing，butonlybyaroundaboutway，anduponlearningoftheambush，weweregladtohaveerredandgavethankstoGodforourerror。Whowoulddoubt，insuchasituation，thattheerringtravelerisbetteroffthantheunerringbrigand？Thisperhapsexplainsthemeaningofourfinestpoet，whenhespeaksforanunhappylover:”WhenIsaw[her]Iwasundone，andfatalerrorsweptmeaway，”[31]
forthereissuchathingasafortunatemistakewhichnotonlydoesnoharmbutactuallydoessomegood。
Butnowforamorecarefulconsiderationofthetruthinthisbusiness。Toerrmeansnothingmorethantojudgeastruewhatisinfactfalse，andasfalsewhatistrue。Itmeanstobecertainabouttheuncertain，uncertainaboutthecertain，whetheritbecertainlytrueorcertainlyfalse。Thissortoferrorinthemindisdeformingandimproper，sincethefittingandproperthingwouldbetobeabletosay，inspeechorjudgment:”Yes，yes。No，no。”[32]Actually，thewretchedlivesweleadcomepartlyfromthis:thatsometimesiftheyarenottobeentirelylost，errorisunavoidable。ItisdifferentinthathigherlifewhereTruthitselfisthelifeofoursouls，wherenonedeceivesandnoneisdeceived。Inthislifemendeceiveandaredeceived，andareactuallyworseoffwhentheydeceivebylyingthanwhentheyaredeceivedbybelievinglies。Yetourrationalmindshrinksfromfalsehood，andnaturallyavoidserrorasmuchasitcan，sothatevenadeceiverisunwillingtobedeceivedbysomebodyelse。[33]
Fortheliarthinkshedoesnotdeceivehimselfandthathedeceivesonlythosewhobelievehim。Indeed，hedoesnoterrinhislying，ifhehimselfknowswhatthetruthis。Butheisdeceivedinthis，thathesupposesthathisliedoesnoharmtohimself，whenactuallyeverysinharmstheonewhocommitsitmorethatitdoestheonewhosuffersit。
CHAPTERVI
TheProblemofLying18。HereamostdifficultandcomplexissueariseswhichI
oncedealtwithinalargebook，inresponsetotheurgentquestionwhetheritiseverthedutyofarighteousmantolie。[34]SomegosofarastocontendthatincasesconcerningtheworshipofGodoreventhenatureofGod，itissometimesagoodandpiousdeedtospeakfalsely。Itseemstome，however，thateverylieisasin，albeitthereisagreatdifferencedependingontheintentionandthetopicofthelie。Hedoesnotsinasmuchwholiesintheattempttobehelpfulasthemanwholiesasapartofadeliberatewickedness。Nordoesonewho，bylying，setsatraveleronthewrongroaddoasmuchharmasonewho，byadeceitfullie，pervertsthewayofalife。Obviously，nooneshouldbeadjudgedaliarwhospeaksfalselywhathesincerelysupposesisthetruth，sinceinhiscasehedoesnotdeceivebutratherisdeceived。Likewise，amanisnotaliar，thoughhecouldbechargedwithrashness，whenheincautiouslyacceptsastruewhatisfalse。Ontheotherhand，however，thatmanisaliarinhisownconsciencewhospeaksthetruthsupposingthatitisafalsehood。Forasfarashissoulisconcerned，sincehedidnotsaywhathebelieved，hedidnottellthetruth，eventhoughthetruthdidcomeoutinwhathesaid。Norisamantobeclearedofthechargeoflyingwhosemouthunknowinglyspeaksthetruthwhilehisconsciousintentionistolie。Ifwedonotconsiderthethingsspokenof，butonlytheintentionsoftheonespeaking，heisthebettermanwhounknowinglyspeaksfalsely——becausehejudgeshisstatementtobetrue——thantheonewhounknowinglyspeaksthetruthwhileinhisheartheisattemptingtodeceive。Forthefirstmandoesnothaveoneintentioninhisheartandanotherinhisword，whereastheother，whateverbethefactsinhisstatement，still”hasonethoughtlockedinhisheart，anotherreadyonhistongue，”[35]whichistheveryessenceoflying。Butwhenwedoconsiderthethingsspokenof，itmakesagreatdifferenceinwhatrespectoneisdeceivedorlies。Tobedeceivedisalesserevilthantolie，asfarasaman’sintentionsareconcerned。ButitisfarmoretolerablethatamanshouldlieaboutthingsnotconnectedwithreligionthanforonetobedeceivedinmatterswherefaithandknowledgeareprerequisitetotheproperserviceofGod。ToillustratewhatImeanbyexamples:Ifonemanliesbysayingthatadeadmanisalive，andanotherman，beingdeceived，believesthatChristwilldieagainaftersomeextendedfutureperiod——
woulditnotbeincomparablybettertolieinthefirstcasethantobedeceivedinthesecond？Andwoulditnotbealessereviltoleadsomeoneintotheformererrorthantobeledbysomeoneintothelatter？
19。Insomethings，then，wearedeceivedingreatmatters；
inothers，small。Insomeofthemnoharmisdone；inothers，evengoodresults。Itisagreatevilforamantobedeceivedsoasnottobelievewhatwouldleadhimtolifeeternal，orwhatwouldleadtoeternaldeath。Butitisasmalleviltobedeceivedbycreditingafalsehoodasthetruthinamatterwhereonebringsonhimselfsometemporalsetbackwhichcanthenbeturnedtogoodusebybeingborneinfaithfulpatience——asforexample，whensomeonejudgesamantobegoodwhoisactuallybad，andconsequentlyhastosufferevilonhisaccount。Or，takethemanwhobelievesabadmantobegood，yetsuffersnoharmathishand。Heisnotbadlydeceivednorwouldthepropheticcondemnationfallonhim:”Woetothosewhocallevilgood。”Forweshouldunderstandthatthissayingreferstothethingsinwhichmenareevilandnottothementhemselves。Hence，hewhocallsadulteryagoodthingmayberightlyaccusedbythepropheticword。Butifhecallsamangoodsupposinghimtobechasteandnotknowingthatheisanadulterer，suchamanisnotdeceivedinhisdoctrineofgoodandevil，butonlyastothesecretsofhumanconduct。Hecallsthemangoodonthebasisofwhathesupposedhimtobe，andthisisundoubtedlyagoodthing。
Moreover，hecallsadulterybadandchastitygood。Buthecallsthisparticularmangoodinignoranceofthefactthatheisanadultererandnotchaste。Insimilarfashion，ifoneescapesaninjurythroughanerror，asImentionedbeforehappenedtomeonthatjourney，thereisevensomethinggoodthataccruestoamanthroughhismistakes。ButwhenIsaythatinsuchacaseamanmaybedeceivedwithoutsufferingharmtherefrom，orevenmaygainsomebenefitthereby，Iamnotsayingthaterrorisnotabadthing，northatitisapositivelygoodthing。Ispeakonlyoftheevilwhichdidnothappenorthegoodwhichdidhappen，throughtheerror，whichwasnotcausedbytheerroritselfbutwhichcameoutofit。Error，initselfandbyitself，whetheragreaterroringreatmattersorasmallerrorinsmallaffairs，isalwaysabadthing。Forwho，exceptinerror，deniesthatitisbadtoapprovethefalseasthoughitwerethetruth，ortodisapprovethetruthasthoughitwerefalsehood，ortoholdwhatiscertainasifitwereuncertain，orwhatisuncertainasifitwerecertain？Itisonethingtojudgeamangoodwhoisactuallybad——thisisanerror。Itisquiteanotherthingnottosufferharmfromsomethingevilifthewickedmanwhomwesupposedtobegoodactuallydoesnothingharmfultous。Itisonethingtosupposethatthisparticularroadistherightonewhenitisnot。
Itisquiteanotherthingthat，fromthiserror——whichisabadthing——somethinggoodactuallyturnsout，suchasbeingsavedfromtheonslaughtofwickedmen。
CHAPTERVII
DisputedQuestionsabouttheLimitsofKnowledgeandCertaintyinVariousMatters20。Idonotrightlyknowwhethererrorsofthissortshouldbecalledsins——whenonethinkswellofawickedman，notknowingwhathischaracterreallyis，orwhen，insteadofourphysicalperception，similarperceptionsoccurwhichweexperienceinthespiritsuchastheillusionoftheapostlePeterwhenhethoughthewasseeingavisionbutwasactuallybeingliberatedfromfettersandchainsbytheangel[36]Orinperceptualillusionswhenwethinksomethingissmoothwhichisactuallyrough，orsomethingsweetwhichisbitter，somethingfragrantwhichisputrid，thatanoiseisthunderwhenitisactuallyawagonpassingby，whenonetakesthismanforthat，orwhentwomenlookalike，ashappensinthecaseoftwins——whenceourpoetspeaksof”apleasanterrorforparents”[37]——IsayIdonotknowwhethertheseandothersucherrorsshouldbecalledsins。
NoramIatthemomenttryingtodealwiththatknottiestofquestionswhichbaffledthemostacutemenoftheAcademy，whetherawisemanoughtevertoaffirmanythingpositivelylesthebeinvolvedintheerrorofaffirmingastruewhatmaybefalse，sinceallquestions，astheyassert，areeithermysterious[occulta]oruncertain。OnthesepointsIwrotethreebooksintheearlystagesofmyconversionbecausemyfurtherprogresswasbeingblockedbyobjectionslikethiswhichstoodattheverythresholdofmyunderstanding。[38]Itwasnecessarytoovercomethedespairofbeingunabletoattaintotruth，whichiswhattheirargumentsseemedtoleadoneto。Amongthemeveryerrorisdeemedasin，andthiscanbewardedoffonlybyasystematicsuspensionofpositiveassent。Indeedtheysayitisanerrorifsomeonebelievesinwhatisuncertain。Forthem，however，nothingiscertaininhumanexperience，becauseofthedeceitfullikenessoffalsehoodtothetruth，sothatevenifwhatappearstobetrueturnsouttobetrueindeed，theywillstilldisputeitwiththemostacuteandevenshamelessarguments。
Amongus，ontheotherhand，”therighteousmanlivesbyfaith。”[39]Now，ifyoutakeawaypositiveaffirmation，[40]youtakeawayfaith，forwithoutpositiveaffirmationnothingisbelieved。Andtherearetruthsaboutthingsunseen，andunlesstheyarebelieved，wecannotattaintothehappylife，whichisnothinglessthanlifeeternal。Itisaquestionwhetherweoughttoarguewiththosewhoprofessthemselvesignorantnotonlyabouttheeternityyettocomebutalsoabouttheirpresentexistence，forthey[theAcademics]evenarguethattheydonotknowwhattheycannothelpknowing。Fornoonecan”notknow”thathehimselfisalive。Ifheisnotalive，hecannot”notknow”aboutitoranythingelseatall，becauseeithertoknoworto”notknow”impliesalivingsubject。But，insuchacase，bynotpositivelyaffirmingthattheyarealive，theskepticswardofftheappearanceoferrorinthemselves，yettheydomakeerrorssimplybyshowingthemselvesalive；onecannoterrwhoisnotalive。Thatweliveisthereforenotonlytrue，butitisaltogethercertainaswell。Andtherearemanythingsthatarethustrueandcertainconcerningwhich，ifwewithholdpositiveassent，thisoughtnottoberegardedasahigherwisdombutactuallyasortofdementia。
21。InthosethingswhichdonotconcernourattainmentoftheKingdomofGod，itdoesnotmatterwhethertheyarebelievedinornot，orwhethertheyaretrueoraresupposedtobetrueorfalse。Toerrinsuchquestions，tomistakeonethingforanother，isnottobejudgedasasinor，ifitis，asasmallandlightone。Insum，whateverkindorhowmuchofanerrorthesemiscuesmaybe，itdoesnotinvolvethewaythatleadstoGod，whichisthefaithofChristwhichworksthroughlove。Thiswayoflifewasnotabandonedinthaterrorsodeartoparentsconcerningthetwins。[41]NordidtheapostlePeterdeviatefromthiswaywhenhethoughthesawavisionandsomistookonethingforsomethingelse。Inhiscase，hedidnotdiscovertheactualsituationuntilaftertheangel，bywhomhewasfreed，haddepartedfromhim。NordidthepatriarchJacobdeviatefromthiswaywhenhebelievedthathisson，whowasinfactalive，hadbeendevouredbyawildbeast。Wemayerrthroughfalseimpressionsofthiskind，withourfaithinGodstillsafe，nordowethusleavethewaythatleadsustohim。Nevertheless，suchmistakes，eveniftheyarenotsins，muststillbelistedamongtheevilsofthislife，whichissoreadilysubjecttovanitythatwejudgethefalsefortrue，rejectthetrueforthefalse，andholdasuncertainwhatisactuallycertain。Forevenifthesemistakesdonotaffectthatfaithbywhichwemoveforwardtoaffirmtruthandeternalbeatitude，yettheyarenotunrelatedtothemiseryinwhichwestillexist。Actually，ofcourse，wewouldbedeceivedinnothingatall，eitherinoursoulsorourphysicalsenses，ifwewerealreadyenjoyingthattrueandperfectedhappiness。
22。Everylie，then，mustbecalledasin，becauseeverymanoughttospeakwhatisinhisheart——notonlywhenhehimselfknowsthetruth，butevenwhenheerrsandisdeceived，asamanmaybe。Thisissowhetheritbetrueorisonlysupposedtobetruewhenitisnot。Butamanwholiessaystheoppositeofwhatisinhisheart，withthedeliberateintenttodeceive。Nowclearly，language，initsproperfunction，wasdevelopednotasameanswherebymencoulddeceiveoneanother，butasamediumthroughwhichamancouldcommunicatehisthoughttoothers。
Whereforetouselanguageinordertodeceive，andnotasitwasdesignedtobeused，isasin。
Norshouldwesupposethatthereisanysuchthingasaliethatisnotasin，justbecausewesupposethatwecansometimeshelpsomebodybylying。Forwecouldalsodothisbystealing，aswhenasecrettheftfromarichmanwhodoesnotfeelthelossisopenlygiventoapauperwhogreatlyappreciatesthegain。Yetnoonewouldsaythatsuchatheftwasnotasin。Oragain，wecouldalso”help”bycommittingadultery，ifsomeoneappearedtobedyingforloveifwewouldnotconsenttoherdesireandwho，ifshelived，mightbepurifiedbyrepentance。Butitcannotbedeniedthatsuchanadulterywouldbeasin。If，then，weholdchastityinsuchhighregard，whereinhastruthoffendedussothatalthoughchastitymustnotbeviolatedbyadultery，evenforthesakeofsomeothergood，yettruthmaybeviolatedbylying？
Thatmenhavemadeprogresstowardthegood，whentheywillnotliesaveforthesakeofhumanvalues，isnottobedenied。Butwhatisrightlypraisedinsuchaforwardstep，andperhapsevenrewarded，istheirgoodwillandnottheirdeceit。Thedeceitmaybepardoned，butcertainlyoughtnottobepraised，especiallyamongtheheirsoftheNewCovenanttowhomithasbeensaid，”Letyourspeechbeyes，yes；no，no:forwhatismorethanthiscomesfromevil。”[42]Yetbecauseofwhatthisevildoes，neverceasingtosubvertthismortalityofours，eventhejointheirsofChristthemselvespray，”Forgiveusourdebts。”[43]
CHAPTERVIII
ThePlightofManAftertheFall23。Withthismuchsaid，withinthenecessarybrevityofthiskindoftreatise，astowhatweneedtoknowaboutthecausesofgoodandevil——enoughtoleadusinthewaytowardtheKingdom，wheretherewillbelifewithoutdeath，truthwithouterror，happinesswithoutanxiety——weoughtnottodoubtinanywaythatthecauseofeverythingpertainingtoourgoodisnothingotherthanthebountifulgoodnessofGodhimself。ThecauseofevilisthedefectionofthewillofabeingwhoismutablygoodfromtheGoodwhichisimmutable。Thishappenedfirstinthecaseoftheangelsand，afterward，thatofman。
24。Thiswastheprimallapseoftherationalcreature，thatis，hisfirstprivationofthegood。Intrainofthistherecreptin，evenwithouthiswillingit，ignoranceoftherightthingstodoandalsoanappetitefornoxiousthings。Andthesebroughtalongwiththem，astheircompanions，errorandmisery。Whenthesetwoevilsarefelttobeimminent，thesoul’smotioninflightfromthemiscalledfear。Moreover，asthesoul’sappetitesaresatisfiedbythingsharmfuloratleastinane——andasitfailstorecognizetheerrorofitsways——itfallsvictimtounwholesomepleasuresormayevenbeexhilaratedbyvainjoys。
Fromthesetaintedspringsofaction——movedbythelashofappetiteratherthanafeelingofplenty——thereflowsouteverykindofmiserywhichisnowthelotofrationalnatures。
25。Yetsuchanature，eveninitsevilstate，couldnotloseitsappetiteforblessedness。Therearetheevilsthatbothmenandangelshaveincommon，forwhosewickednessGodhathcondemnedtheminsimplejustice。Butmanhasauniquepenaltyaswell:heisalsopunishedbythedeathofthebody。Godhadindeedthreatenedmanwithdeathaspenaltyifheshouldsin。Heendowedhimwithfreedomofthewillinorderthathemightrulehimbyrationalcommandanddeterhimbythethreatofdeath。Heevenplacedhiminthehappinessofparadiseinashelterednookoflife[inumbravitae]where，bybeingagoodstewardofrighteousness，hewouldrisetobetterthings。
26。Fromthisstate，afterhehadsinned，manwasbanished，andthroughhissinhesubjectedhisdescendantstothepunishmentofsinanddamnation，forhehadradicallycorruptedthem，inhimself，byhissinning。Asaconsequenceofthis，allthosedescendedfromhimandhiswifewhohadpromptedhimtosinandwhowascondemnedalongwithhimatthesametime——allthosebornthroughcarnallust，onwhomthesamepenaltyisvisitedasfordisobedience——alltheseenteredintotheinheritanceoforiginalsin。Throughthisinvolvementtheywereled，throughdiverserrorsandsufferingsalongwiththerebelangels，theircorruptorsandpossessorsandcompanions，tothatfinalstageofpunishmentwithoutend。”Thusbyoneman，sinenteredintotheworldanddeaththroughsin；andthusdeathcameuponallmen，sinceallmenhavesinned。”[44]By”theworld”inthispassagetheapostleis，ofcourse，referringtothewholehumanrace。
27。This，then，wasthesituation:thewholemassofthehumanracestoodcondemned，lyingruinedandwallowinginevil，beingplungedfromevilintoeviland，havingjoinedcauseswiththeangelswhohadsinned，itwaspayingthefullydeservedpenaltyforimpiousdesertion。CertainlytheangerofGodrests，infulljustice，onthedeedsthatthewickeddofreelyinblindandunbridledlust；anditismanifestinwhateverpenaltiestheyarecalledontosuffer，bothopenlyandsecretly。YettheCreator’sgoodnessdoesnotceasetosustainlifeandvitalityevenintheevilangels，forwere_this_sustenancewithdrawn，theywouldsimplyceasetoexist。Asformankind，althoughbornofacorruptedandcondemnedstock，hestillretainsthepowertoformandanimatehisseed，todirecthismembersintheirtemporalorder，toenlivenhissensesintheirspatialrelations，andtoprovidebodilynourishment。ForGodjudgeditbettertobringgoodoutofevilthannottopermitanyeviltoexist。Andifhehadwilledthatthereshouldbenoreformationinthecaseofmen，asthereisnoneforthewickedangels，woulditnothavebeenjustifthenaturethatdesertedGodand，throughtheeviluseofhispowers，trampledandtransgressedthepreceptsofhisCreator，whichcouldhavebeeneasilykept——thesamecreaturewhostubbornlyturnedawayfromHisLightandviolatedtheimageoftheCreatorinhimself，whohadintheeviluseofhisfreewillbrokenawayfromthewholesomedisciplineofGod’slaw——woulditnothavebeenjustifsuchabeinghadbeenabandonedbyGodwhollyandforeverandlaidundertheeverlastingpunishmentwhichhedeserved？ClearlyGodwouldhavedonethisifhewereonlyjustandnotalsomercifulandifhehadnotwilledtoshowfarmorestrikingevidenceofhismercybypardoningsomewhowereunworthyofit。
CHAPTERIX
TheReplacementoftheFallenAngelsByElectMen28-30；TheNecessityofGrace30-32
28。WhilesomeoftheangelsdesertedGodinimpiousprideandwerecastintothelowestdarknessfromthebrightnessoftheirheavenlyhome，theremainingnumberoftheangelsperseveredineternalblissandholinesswithGod。Forthesefaithfulangelswerenotdescendedfromasingleangel，lapsedanddamned。Hence，theoriginalevildidnotbindtheminthefettersofinheritedguilt，nordidithandthewholecompanyovertoadeservedpunishment，asisthehumanlot。Instead，whenhewhobecamethedevilfirstroseinrebellionwithhisimpiouscompanyandwasthenwiththemprostrated，therestoftheangelsstoodfastinpiousobediencetotheLordandsoreceivedwhattheothershadnothad——asureknowledgeoftheireverlastingsecurityinhisunfailingsteadfastness。
29。ThusitpleasedGod，CreatorandGovernoroftheuniverse，thatsincethewholemultitudeoftheangelshadnotperishedinthisdesertionofhim，thosewhohadperishedwouldremainforeverinperdition，butthosewhohadremainedloyalthroughtherevoltshouldgoonrejoicinginthecertainknowledgeoftheblissforevertheirs。Fromtheotherpartoftherationalcreation——thatis，mankind——althoughithadperishedasawholethroughsinsandpunishments，bothoriginalandpersonal，Godhaddeterminedthataportionofitwouldberestoredandwouldfillupthelosswhichthatdiabolicaldisasterhadcausedintheangelicsociety。Forthisisthepromisetothesaintsattheresurrection，thattheyshallbeequaltotheangelsofGod。[45]
ThustheheavenlyJerusalem，ourmotherandthecommonwealthofGod，shallnotbedefraudedofherfullquotaofcitizens，butperhapswillruleoveranevenlargernumber。Weknowneitherthenumberofholymennorofthefilthydemons，whoseplacesaretobefilledbythesonsoftheholymother，whoseemedbarrenintheearth，butwhosesonswillabidetimewithoutendinthepeacethedemonslost。Butthenumberofthosecitizens，whetherthosewhonowbelongorthosewhowillinthefuture，isknowntothemindoftheMaker，”whocallethintoexistencethingswhicharenot，asthoughtheywere，”[46]and”orderethallthingsinmeasureandnumberandweight。”[47]
30。Butnow，canthatpartofthehumanracetowhomGodhathpromiseddeliveranceandaplaceintheeternalKingdomberestoredthroughthemeritsoftheirownworks？Ofcoursenot！
Forwhatgoodworkscouldalostsouldoexceptashehadbeenrescuedfromhislostness？Couldhedothisbythedeterminationofhisfreewill？Ofcoursenot！Foritwasintheeviluseofhisfreewillthatmandestroyedhimselfandhiswillatthesametime。Forasamanwhokillshimselfisstillalivewhenhekillshimself，buthavingkilledhimselfisthennolongeraliveandcannotresuscitatehimselfafterhehasdestroyedhisownlife——
soalsosinwhicharisesfromtheactionofthefreewillturnsouttobevictoroverthewillandthefreewillisdestroyed。”Bywhomamanisovercome，tothisonehethenisboundasslave。”[48]ThisisclearlythejudgmentoftheapostlePeter。
Andsinceitistrue，Iaskyouwhatkindoflibertycanonehavewhoisboundasaslaveexceptthelibertythatlovestosin？
Heservesfreelywhofreelydoesthewillofhismaster。
Accordinglyhewhoisslavetosinisfreetosin。Butthereafterhewillnotbefreetodorightunlessheisdeliveredfromthebondageofsinandbeginstobetheservantofrighteousness。
This，then，istrueliberty:thejoythatcomesindoingwhatisright。Atthesametime，itisalsodevotedserviceinobediencetorighteousprecept。
Buthowwouldaman，boundandsold，getbackhislibertytodogood，unlesshecouldregainitfromHimwhosevoicesaith，”IftheSonshallmakeyoufree，thenyouwillbefreeindeed”[49]？
Butbeforethisprocessbeginsinman，couldanyonegloryinhisgoodworksasiftheywereactsofhisfreewill，whenheisnotyetfreetoactrightly？Hecoulddothisonlyif，puffedupinproudvanity，heweremerelyboasting。Thisattitudeiswhattheapostlewasreprovingwhenhesaid，”Bygraceyouhavebeensavedbyfaith。”[50]
31。Andlestmenshouldarrogatetothemselvessavingfaithastheirownworkandnotunderstanditasadivinegift，thesameapostlewhosayssomewhereelsethathehad”obtainedmercyoftheLordtobetrustworthy”[51]makeshereanadditionalcomment:”Andthisisnotofyourselves，ratheritisagiftofGod——notbecauseofworkseither，lestanymanshouldboast。”[52]Butthen，lestitbesupposedthatthefaithfularelackingingoodworks，headdedfurther，”Forwearehisworkmanship，createdinChristJesustogoodworks，whichGodhathpreparedbeforehandforustowalkinthem。”[53]
WearethentrulyfreewhenGodorderethourlives，thatis，formethandcreatethusnotasmen——thishehathalreadydone——
butalsoasgoodmen，whichheisnowdoingbyhisgrace，thatwemayindeedbenewcreaturesinChristJesus。[54]Accordingly，theprayer:”Createinmeacleanheart，OGod。”[55]Thisdoesnotmean，asfarasthenaturalhumanheartisconcerned，thatGodhathnotalreadycreatedthis。
32。Onceagain，lestanyoneglory，ifnotinhisownworks，atleastinthedeterminationofhisfreewill，asifsomemerithadoriginatedfromhimandasifthefreedomtodogoodworkshadbeenbestowedonhimasakindofreward，lethimhearthesameheraldofgrace，announcing:”ForitisGodwhoisatworkinyoubothtowillandtodoaccordingtohisgoodwill。”[56]And，inanotherplace:”Itisnotthereforeamatterofman’swilling，orofhisrunning，butofGod’sshowingmercy。”[57]Still，itisobviousthatamanwhoisoldenoughtoexercisehisreasoncannotbelieve，hope，orloveunlesshewillsit，norcouldherunfortheprizeofhishighcallinginGodwithoutadecisionofhiswill。Inwhatsense，therefore，isit”notamatterofhumanwillingorrunningbutofGod’sshowingmercy，”unlessitbethat”thewillitselfispreparedbytheLord，”evenasitiswritten？[58]Thissaying，therefore，that”itisnotamatterofhumanwillingorrunningbutofGod’sshowingmercy，”meansthattheactionisfromboth，thatistosay，fromthewillofmanandfromthemercyofGod。Thusweacceptthedictum，”ItisnotamatterofhumanwillingorrunningbutofGod’sshowingmercy，”asifitmeant，”ThewillofmanisnotsufficientbyitselfunlessthereisalsothemercyofGod。”Bythesametoken，themercyofGodisnotsufficientbyitselfunlessthereisalsothewillofman。Butifwesayrightlythat”itisnotamatterofhumanwillingorrunningbutofGod’sshowingmercy，”becausethewillofmanaloneisnotenough，why，then，isnotthecontraryrightlysaid，”ItisnotamatterofGod’sshowingmercybutofaman’swilling，”sincethemercyofGodbyitselfaloneisnotenough？
Now，actually，noChristianwoulddaretosay，”ItisnotamatterofGod’sshowingmercybutofman’swilling，”lestheexplicitlycontradicttheapostle。Theconclusionremains，therefore，thatthissaying:”Notman’swillingorrunningbutGod’sshowingmercy，”istobeunderstoodtomeanthatthewholeprocessiscreditedtoGod，whobothprepareththewilltoreceivedivineaidandaideththewillwhichhasbeenthusprepared。[59]
Foraman’sgoodwillcomesbeforemanyothergiftsfromGod，butnotallofthem。Oneofthegiftsitdoesnotantedateis——
justitself！ThusintheSacredEloquencewereadboth，”Hismercygoesbeforeme，”[60]andalso，”Hismercyshallfollowme。”[61]Itpredisposesamanbeforehewills，toprompthiswilling。Itfollowstheactofwilling，lestone’swillbefrustrated。Otherwise，whyareweadmonishedtoprayforourenemies，[62]whoareplainlynotnowwillingtolivepiously，unlessitbethatGodisevennowatworkinthemandintheirwills？[63]Oragain，whyareweadmonishedtoaskinordertoreceive，unlessitbethatHewhograntsuswhatwewillishethroughwhomitcomestopassthatwewill？Weprayforenemies，therefore，thatthemercyofGodshouldgobeforethem，asitgoesbeforeus；weprayforourselvesthathismercyshallfollowus。
CHAPTERX
JesusChristtheMediator33。Thusitwasthatthehumanracewasboundinajustdoomandallmenwerechildrenofwrath。Ofthiswrathitiswritten:”Forallourdaysarewasted；weareruinedinthywrath；ouryearsseemlikeaspider’sweb。”[64]LikewiseJobspokeofthiswrath:”Manbornofwomanisoffewdaysandfulloftrouble。”[65]
AndeventheLordJesussaidofit:”HethatbelievesintheSonhaslifeeverlasting，buthethatbelievesnotdoesnothavelife。
Instead，thewrathofGodabidesinhim。”[66]Hedoesnotsay，”Itwillcome，”but，”Itnowabides。”Indeedeverymanisbornintothisstate。Whereforetheapostlesays，”Forwetoowerebynaturechildrenofwrathevenastheothers。”[67]Sincemenareinthisstateofwraththroughoriginalsin——aconditionmadestillgraverandmoreperniciousastheycompoundedmoreandworsesinswithit——aMediatorwasrequired；thatistosay，aReconcilerwhobyofferingauniquesacrifice，ofwhichallthesacrificesoftheLawandtheProphetswereshadows，shouldallaythatwrath。Thustheapostlesays，”Forif，whenwewereenemies，wewerereconciledtoGodbythedeathofhisSon，evenmorenowbeingreconciledbyhisbloodweshallbesavedfromwraththroughhim。”[68]However，whenGodissaidtobewrathful，thisdoesnotsignifyanysuchperturbationinhimasthereisinthesoulofawrathfulman。Hisverdict，whichisalwaysjust，takesthename”wrath”asatermborrowedfromthelanguageofhumanfeelings。
This，then，isthegraceofGodthroughJesusChristourLord——
thatwearereconciledtoGodthroughtheMediatorandreceivetheHolySpiritsothatwemaybechangedfromenemiesintosons，”forasmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod，theyarethesonsofGod。”[69]
34。ItwouldtaketoolongtosayallthatwouldbetrulyworthyofthisMediator。Indeed，mencannotspeakproperlyofsuchmatters。Forwhocanunfoldincogentenoughfashionthisstatement，that”theWordbecamefleshanddweltamongus，”[70]sothatweshouldthenbelievein”theonlySonofGodtheFatherAlmighty，bornoftheHolySpiritandMarytheVirgin。”YetitisindeedtruethattheWordwasmadeflesh，thefleshbeingassumedbytheDivinity，nottheDivinitybeingchangedintoflesh。Ofcourse，bytheterm”flesh”weoughtheretounderstand”man，”anexpressioninwhichthepartsignifiesthewhole，justasitissaid，”Sincebytheworksofthelawnofleshshallbejustified，”[71]whichistosay，no_man_shallbejustified。Yetcertainlywemustsaythatinthatassumptionnothingwaslackingthatbelongstohumannature。
Butitwasanatureentirelyfreefromthebondsofallsin。
Itwasnotanaturebornofbothsexeswithfleshlydesires，withtheburdenofsin，theguiltofwhichiswashedawayinregeneration。Instead，itwasthekindofnaturethatwouldbefittinglybornofavirgin，conceivedbyHismother’sfaithandnotherfleshlydesires。Nowifinhisbeingborn，hervirginityhadbeendestroyed，hewouldnotthenhavebeenbornofavirgin。
ItwouldthenbefalsewhichisunthinkableforthewholeChurchtoconfesshim”bornoftheVirginMary。”ThisistheChurchwhich，imitatinghismother，dailygivesbirthtohismembersyetremainsvirgin。Read，ifyouplease，myletteronthevirginityofSaintMarywrittentothatillustriousman，Volusianus，whomI
namewithhonorandaffection。[72]
35。ChristJesus，SonofGod，isthusbothGodandman。HewasGodbeforeallages；heismaninthisageofours。HeisGodbecauseheistheWordofGod，for”theWordwasGod。”[73]Yetheismanalso，sinceintheunityofhisPersonarationalsoulandbodyisjoinedtotheWord。
Accordingly，insofarasheisGod，heandtheFatherareone。Yetinsofarasheisman，theFatherisgreaterthanhe。
SincehewasGod’sonlySon——notbygracebutbynature——totheendthathemightindeedbethefullnessofallgrace，hewasalsomadeSonofMan——andyethewasintheonenatureaswellasintheother，oneChrist。”ForbeingintheformofGod，hejudgeditnotaviolationtobewhathewasbynature，theequalofGod。Yetheemptiedhimself，takingontheformofaservant，”[74]yetneitherlosingnordiminishingtheformofGod。[75]Thushewasmadelessandremainedequal，andboththeseinaunityaswesaidbefore。ButheisoneofthesebecauseheistheWord；theother，becausehewasaman。AstheWord，heistheequaloftheFather；asaman，heisless。HeistheoneSonofGod，andatthesametimeSonofMan；theoneSonofMan，andatthesametimeGod’sSon。ThesearenottwosonsofGod，oneGodandtheotherman，but_one_SonofGod——Godwithoutorigin，manwithadefiniteorigin——ourLordJesusChrist。
CHAPTERXI
TheIncarnationasPrimeExampleoftheActionofGod’sGrace36。InthisthegraceofGodissupremelymanifest，commendedingrandandvisiblefashion；forwhathadthehumannatureinthemanChristmerited，thatit，andnoother，shouldbeassumedintotheunityofthePersonoftheonlySonofGod？Whatgoodwill，whatzealousstrivings，whatgoodworksprecededthisassumptionbywhichthatparticularmandeservedtobecomeonePersonwithGod？Washeamanbeforetheunion，andwasthissingulargracegivenhimastooneparticularlydeservingbeforeGod？Ofcoursenot！For，fromthemomenthebegantobeaman，thatmanbegantobenothingotherthanGod’sSon，theonlySon，andthisbecausetheWordofGodassuminghimbecameflesh，yetstillassuredlyremainedGod。Justaseverymanisapersonalunity——thatis，aunityofrationalsoulandflesh——soalsoisChristapersonalunity:Wordandman。
Whyshouldtherebesuchgreatglorytoahumannature——andthisundoubtedlyanactofgrace，nomeritprecedingunlessitbethatthosewhoconsidersuchaquestionfaithfullyandsoberlymighthavehereaclearmanifestationofGod’sgreatandsolegrace，andthisinorderthattheymightunderstandhowtheythemselvesarejustifiedfromtheirsinsbytheselfsamegracewhichmadeitsothatthemanChristhadnopowertosin？Thusindeedtheangelhailedhismotherwhenannouncingtoherthefuturebirth:”Hail，”hesaid，”fullofgrace。”Andshortlythereafter，”YouhavefoundfavorwithGod。”[76]Andthiswassaidofher，thatshewasfullofgrace，sinceshewastobemotherofherLord，indeedtheLordofall。Yet，concerningChristhimself，whentheEvangelistJohnsaid，”AndtheWordbecamefleshanddweltamongus，”headded，”andwebeheldhisglory，agloryasoftheonlySonoftheFather，fullofgraceandtruth。”[77]Whenhesaid，”TheWordwasmadeflesh，”thismeans，”Fullofgrace。”Whenhealsosaid，”ThegloryoftheonlybegottenoftheFather，”thismeans，”Fulloftruth。”IndeeditwasTruthhimself，God’sonlybegottenSon——and，again，thisnotbygracebutbynature——who，bygrace，assumedhumannatureintosuchapersonalunitythathehimselfbecametheSonofManaswell。
37。ThissameJesusChrist，God’soneandonlySonourLord，wasbornoftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary。NowobviouslytheHolySpiritisGod’sgift，agiftthatisitselfequaltotheGiver；whereforetheHolySpiritisGodalso，notinferiortotheFatherandtheSon。Nowwhatdoesthismean，thatChrist’sbirthinrespecttohishumannaturewasoftheHolySpirit，savethatthiswasitselfalsoaworkofgrace？
ForwhentheVirginaskedoftheangelthemannerbywhichwhatheannouncedwouldcometopasssinceshehadknownnoman，theangelanswered:”TheHolySpiritshallcomeuponyouandthepoweroftheMostHighshallovershadowyou；thereforetheHolyOnewhichshallbebornofyoushallbecalledtheSonofGod。”[78]AndwhenJosephwishedtoputheraway，suspectingadulterysinceheknewshewasnotpregnantbyhim，hereceivedasimilaranswerfromtheangel:”DonotfeartotakeMaryasyourwife；forthatwhichisconceivedinherisoftheHolySpirit”[79]——thatis，”WhatyoususpectisfromanothermanisoftheHolySpirit。”
CHAPTERXII
TheRoleoftheHolySpirit38。Arewe，then，tosaythattheHolySpiritistheFatherofChrist’shumannature，sothatasGodtheFathergeneratedtheWord，sotheHolySpiritgeneratedthehumannature，andthatfrombothnaturesChristcametobeone，SonofGodtheFatherastheWord，SonoftheHolySpiritasman？DowesupposethattheHolySpiritishisFatherthroughbegettinghimoftheVirginMary？
Whowoulddaretosaysuchathing？Thereisnoneedtoshowbyargumenthowmanyabsurdconsequencessuchanotionhas，whenitissoabsurdinitselfthatnobeliever’searcanbeartohearit。
Actually，then，asweconfessourLordJesusChrist，whoisGodfromGodyetbornasmanoftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary，thereisineachnatureinboththedivineandthehumantheonlySonofGodtheFatherAlmighty，fromwhomproceedstheHolySpirit。
How，then，dowesaythatChristisbornoftheHolySpirit，iftheHolySpiritdidnotbegethim？Isitbecausehemadehim？
Thismightbe，sincethroughourLordJesusChrist——intheformofGod——allthingsweremade。Yetinsofarasheisman，hehimselfwasmade，evenastheapostlesays:”HewasmadeoftheseedofDavidaccordingtotheflesh。”[80]ButsincethatcreaturewhichtheVirginconceivedandbore，thoughitwasrelatedtothePersonoftheSonalone，wasmadebythewholeTrinity——fortheworksoftheTrinityarenotseparable——whyistheHolySpiritnamedastheOnewhomadeit？Isit，perhaps，thatwhenanyOneoftheThreeisnamedinconnectionwithsomedivineaction，thewholeTrinityistobeunderstoodasinvolvedinthataction？Thisistrueandcanbeshownbyexamples，butweshouldnotdwelltoolongonthiskindofsolution。
Forwhatstillconcernsusishowitcanbesaid，”BornoftheHolySpirit，”whenheisinnowisetheSonoftheHolySpirit？Now，justbecauseGodmade[fecit]thisworld，onecouldnotsaythattheworldisthesonofGod，orthatitis”born”ofGod。Rather，onesaysitwas”made”or”created”or”founded”or”established”byhim，orhoweverelseonemightliketospeakofit。So，then，whenweconfess，”BornoftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary，”thesenseinwhichheisnottheSonoftheHolySpiritandyetisthesonoftheVirginMary，whenhewasbornbothofhimandofher，isdifficulttoexplain。ButthereisnodoubtastothefactthathewasnotbornfromhimasFatherashewasbornofherasmother。
39。Consequentlyweshouldnotgrantthatwhateverisbornofsomethingshouldthereforebecalledthesonofthatthing。
Letuspassoverthefactthatasonis”born”ofamaninadifferentsensethanahairis，oralouse，oramawworm——noneoftheseisason。Letuspassoverthesethings，sincetheyareanunfittinganalogyinsogreatamatter。YetitiscertainthatthosewhoarebornofwaterandoftheHolySpiritwouldnotproperlybecalledsonsofthewaterbyanyone。ButitdoesmakesensetocallthemsonsofGodtheFatherandofMotherChurch。
Thus，therefore，theonebornoftheHolySpiritisthesonofGodtheFather，notoftheHolySpirit。
Whatwesaidaboutthehairandtheotherthingshasthismuchrelevance，thatitremindsusthatnoteverythingwhichis”born”ofsomethingissaidtobe”son”tohimfromwhichitis”born。”Likewise，itdoesnotfollowthatthosewhoarecalledsonsofsomeonearealwayssaidtohavebeenbornofhim，sincetherearesomewhoareadopted。Eventhosewhoarecalled”sonsofGehenna”arenotborn_of_it，buthavebeendestined_for_it，justasthesonsoftheKingdomaredestinedforthat。
40。Wherefore，sinceathingmaybe”born”ofsomethingelse，yetnotinthefashionofa”son，”andconversely，sincenoteveryonewhoiscalledsonisbornofhimwhosesonheiscalled——thisistheverymodeinwhichChristwas”born”oftheHolySpirityetnotasason，andoftheVirginMaryasason——thissuggeststousthegraceofGodbywhichacertainhumanperson，nomeritwhateverpreceding，attheveryoutsetofhisexistence，wasjoinedtotheWordofGodinsuchaunityofpersonthattheselfsameonewhoisSonofManshouldbeSonofGod，andtheonewhoisSonofGodshouldbeSonofMan。Thus，inhisassumptionofhumannature，gracecametobenaturaltothatnature，allowingnopowertosin。ThisiswhygraceissignifiedbytheHolySpirit，becausehehimselfissoperfectlyGodthatheisalsocalledGod’sGift。Still，tospeakadequatelyofthis——evenifonecould——wouldcallforaverylongdiscussion。
CHAPTERXIII
BaptismandOriginalSin41。Sincehewasbegottenandconceivedinnopleasureofcarnalappetite——andthereforeborenotraceoforiginalsin——
hewas，bythegraceofGodoperatinginamarvelousandanineffablemanner，joinedandunitedinapersonalunitywiththeonly-begottenWordoftheFather，aSonnotbygracebutbynature。Andalthoughhehimselfcommittednosin，yetbecauseof”thelikenessofsinfulflesh”[81]inwhichhecame，hewashimselfcalledsinandwasmadeasacrificeforthewashingawayofsins。
Indeed，undertheoldlaw，sacrificesforsinswereoftencalledsins。[82]Yetheofwhomthosesacrificesweremereshadowswashimselfactuallymadesin。Thus，whentheapostlesaid，”ForChrist’ssake，webeseechyoutobereconciledtoGod，”
hestraightwayadded，”Him，whoknewnosin，hemadetobesinforusthatwemightbemadetobetherighteousnessofGodinhim。”[83]Hedoesnotsay，aswereadinsomedefectivecopies，”Hewhoknewnosindidsinforus，”asifChristhimselfcommittedsinforoursake。Rather，hesays，”He[Christ]whoknewnosin，he[God]madetobesinforus。”TheGodtowhomwearetobereconciledhaththusmadehimthesacrificeforsinbywhichwemaybereconciled。
Hehimselfisthereforesinasweourselvesarerighteousness——notourownbutGod’s，notinourselvesbutinhim。Justashewassin——nothisownbutours，rootednotinhimselfbutinus——soheshowedforththroughthelikenessofsinfulflesh，inwhichhewascrucified，thatsincesinwasnotinhimhecouldthen，sotosay，dietosinbydyingintheflesh，whichwas”thelikenessofsin。”Andsincehehadneverlivedintheoldmannerofsinning，hemight，inhisresurrection，signifythenewlifewhichisours，whichisspringingtolifeanewfromtheolddeathinwhichwehadbeendeadtosin。
42。Thisisthemeaningofthegreatsacramentofbaptism，whichiscelebratedamongus。Allwhoattaintothisgracedietherebytosin——ashehimselfissaidtohavediedtosinbecausehediedintheflesh，thatis，”inthelikenessofsin”——
andtheyaretherebyalivebybeingreborninthebaptismalfont，justasheroseagainfromthesepulcher。Thisisthecasenomatterwhattheageofthebody。
43。Forwhetheritbeanewborninfantoradecrepitoldman——sincenooneshouldbebarredfrombaptism——justso，thereisnoonewhodoesnotdietosininbaptism。Infantsdietooriginalsinonly；adults，toallthosesinswhichtheyhaveadded，throughtheirevilliving，totheburdentheybroughtwiththematbirth。
44。Buteventhesearefrequentlysaidtodietosin，whenwithoutdoubttheydienottoonebuttomanysins，andtoallthesinswhichtheyhavethemselvesalreadycommittedbythought，word，anddeed。Actually，bytheuseofthesingularnumberthepluralnumberisoftensignified，asthepoetsaid，”Andtheyfillthebellywiththearmedwarrior，”[84]
althoughtheydidthiswithmanywarriors。AndinourownScripturesweread:”PraythereforetotheLordthathemaytakefromustheserpent。”[85]Itdoesnotsay”serpents，”asitmight，fortheyweresufferingfrommanyserpents。Thereare，moreover，innumerableothersuchexamples。
Yet，whentheoriginalsinissignifiedbytheuseofthepluralnumber，aswesaywheninfantsarebaptized”untotheremissionofsins，”insteadofsaying”untotheremissionofsin，”
thenwehavetheconverseexpressioninwhichthesingularisexpressedbythepluralnumber。ThusintheGospel，itissaidofHerod’sdeath，”Fortheyaredeadwhosoughtthechild’slife”[86]；itdoesnotsay，”Heisdead。”AndinExodus:”Theymade，”[Moses]says，”tothemselvesgodsofgold，”whentheyhadmadeonecalf。Andofthiscalf，theysaid:”Thesearethygods，OIsrael，whichbroughtyououtofthelandofEgypt，”[87]herealsoputtingthepluralforthesingular。
45。Still，eveninthatonesin——which”enteredintotheworldbyonemanandsospreadtoallmen，”[88]andonaccountofwhichinfantsarebaptized——onecanrecognizeapluralityofsins，ifthatsinglesinisdivided，sotosay，intoitsseparateelements。Forthereisprideinit，sincemanpreferredtobeunderhisownruleratherthantheruleofGod；andsacrilegetoo，formandidnotacknowledgeGod；andmurder，sincehecasthimselfdowntodeath；andspiritualfornication，fortheintegrityofthehumanmindwascorruptedbytheseductionoftheserpent；andtheft，sincetheforbiddenfruitwassnatched；andavarice，sincehehungeredformorethanshouldhavesufficedforhim——andwhateverothersinsthatcouldbediscoveredinthediligentanalysisofthatonesin。
46。Itisalsosaid——andnotwithoutsupport——thatinfantsareinvolvedinthesinsoftheirparents，notonlyofthefirstpair，butevenoftheirown，ofwhomtheywereborn。
Indeed，thatdivinejudgment，”Ishallvisitthesinsofthefathersontheirchildren，”[89]definitelyappliestothembeforetheycomeintotheNewCovenantbyregeneration。ThisCovenantwasforetoldbyEzekielwhenhesaidthatthesonsshouldnotbeartheirfathers’sins，northeproverbanylongerapplyinIsrael，”Ourfathershaveeatensourgrapesandthechildren’steetharesetonedge。”[90]
Thisiswhyeachoneofthemmustbebornagain，sothathemaytherebybeabsolvedofwhateversinwasinhimatthetimeofbirth。Forthesinscommittedbyevil-doingafterbirthcanbehealedbyrepentance——as，indeed，weseeithappenevenafterbaptism。Forthenewbirth[regeneratio]wouldnothavebeeninstitutedexceptforthefactthatthefirstbirth[generatio]
wastainted——andtosuchadegreethatonebornofevenalawfulwedlocksaid，”Iwasconceivedininiquities；andinsinsdidmymothernourishmeinherwomb。”[91]Nordidhesay”ininiquity”
or”insin，”ashemighthavequitecorrectly；rather，hepreferredtosay”iniquities”and”sins，”because，asIexplainedabove，therearesomanysinsinthatonesin——whichhaspassedintoallmen，andwhichwassogreatthathumannaturewaschangedandbyitbroughtunderthenecessityofdeath——andalsobecausethereareothersins，suchasthoseofparents，which，eveniftheycannotchangeournatureinthesameway，stillinvolvethechildreninguilt，unlessthegraciousgraceandmercyofGodinterpose。
47。But，inthematterofthesinsofone’sotherparents，thosewhostandasone’sforebearsfromAdamdowntoone’sownparents，aquestionmightwellberaised:whetheramanatbirthisinvolvedintheevildeedsofallhisforebears，andtheirmultipliedoriginalsins，sothatthelaterintimeheisborn，theworseestateheisbornin；orwhether，onthisveryaccount，Godthreatenstovisitthesinsoftheparentsasfaras——butnofartherthan——thethirdandfourthgenerations，becauseinhismercyhewillnotcontinuehiswrathbeyondthat。Itisnothispurposethatthosenotgiventhegraceofregenerationbecrushedundertooheavyaburdenintheireternaldamnation，astheywouldbeiftheywereboundtobear，asoriginalguilt，allthesinsoftheirancestorsfromthebeginningofthehumanrace，andtopaytheduepenaltyforthem。WhetheryetanothersolutiontosodifficultaproblemmightormightnotbefoundbyamorediligentsearchandinterpretationofHolyScripture，Idarenotrashlyaffirm。