Folio 109

Council of Orange II, 529

printed p. 77 · pdf p. 109

180. Can. 7. If anyone affirms that without the illumination and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,—who gives to all sweetness in consenting to and believing in the truth,—through the strength of nature he can think anything good which pertains to the salvation of eternal life, as he should, or choose, or consent to salvation, that is to the evangelical proclamation, he is deceived by the heretical spirit, not understanding the voice of God speaking in the Gospel: "Without me you can do nothing" [John 15:5]; and that of the Apostle: Not that we are fit to think everything by ourselves as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God [II Cor. 3:5; cf. St. Augustine].1

181. Can. 8. If anyone maintains that some by mercy, but others by free will, which it is evident has been vitiated in all who have been born of the transgression of the first man, are able to come to the grace of baptism, he is proved to be inconsistent with the true faith. For he asserts that the free will of all was not weakened by the sin of the first man, or assuredly was injured in such a way, that nevertheless certain ones have the power without revelation of God to be able by themselves to seek the mystery of eternal salvation. How contrary this is, the Lord Himself proves, who testifies that not some, but no one can come to Him, except whom the Father draws [John 6:44], and just as he says to PETER: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to you, but my Father, who is in heaven" [Matt. 16:17]; and the Apostle: No one can say Lord Jesus except in the Holy Spirit [I Cor. 12:3; cf. St. Prosper].2

182. Can. 9. "The assistance of God. It is a divine gift, both when we think rightly and when we restrain our feet from falsity and injustice; for as often as we do good, God operates in us and with us, that we may work" [St. Prosper].3

183. Can. 10. The assistance of God. The assistance of God ought to be implored always even by those who have been reborn and have been healed, that they may arrive at a good end, or may be able to continue in good work [cf. St. Prosper].4

184. Can. 11. "The obligation of vows. No one would rightly vow anything to God, unless he accepts from Him what he vows" [St. Prosper]5 as it is written: And what we have received from your hand, we give to you [I Par. 29:14].

185. Can. 12. "God loves such as us. God loves us, such as we shall be by His gift, not such as we are by our own merit" [St. Prosper].6

  1. De gratia Christi 25, 26-26, 27 [ML 44, 373 f.]. ↩

  2. Contra collat. 5, 13; 19, 55 (Sixth definition) [ML 45, 1806 f.; 1829]. ↩

  3. Thoughts taken from Augustine, Sent. 22 [ML 45, 1861]. ↩

  4. Contra collat. 11, 31-36 [ML 45, 1815 ff.]. ↩

  5. Thoughts taken from Augustine, Sent. 54 [ML 45, 1864]; from St. Augustine's "City of God" 17, 4, 7 [ML 41, 530]. ↩

  6. Thoughts taken from St. Augustine, Sent. 56 [ML 45, 1864]. ↩