Mozley: A Treatise on the Augustinian Doctrine of

Augitstinian
CHAP. YI.
Bat if this is
ordinary meaning disclaimed for the expres
sion assistance of action, and, instead of being identified
with, the latter is contrasted to, the assistance of the
power to will and act, it must follow that by assistance
of action a grace of a stronger kind is meant than that
which assists the power to act ; and what can that grace
be but one which causes action itself i.e. irresistible
grace ?
Indeed,
this absolute sense is fastened on the word
adjutorium in this, Augustine s, definition of grace, by
the mode in which the same word is used in the rival and
opposing definition. For the word carries to the phrase
adjutorium voluntatis et actionis the same meaning that
it bore in the phrase adjutorium possibilitatis (for the
two sides differ not about the meaning of assistance, but
about what is assisted). But in the latter phrase it bears
the sense of causing as well as of assisting ; for the Pe
lagians said this power (possibilitas) was given by Grod
in the first instance as well as assisted when had. The
word therefore bears the same sense in the phrase adju
torium voluntatis et act ion is J and implies the gift or
ca.usation of will and action, and not only the assistance
of it.
But the meaning of this definition of grace, which is
evident hitherto with some difficulty, and only by a close
and exact process of comparison, is abundantly clear and
manifest when we come to S. Augustine s own explanation
and exposition of it. He : says Pelagius in his first book
"
" on Freewill thus : speaks We have," he says, a power
of taking either side possibilitatem utriusque partis
implanted in us by God, as a fruitful and productive root,
to produce and bring forth according to men s different
and either shine with the flower of virtue, or bristle
wills ;
with the thorns of vice, according to the choice of the
cultivator." In which passage, not perceiving what he
says, he establishes one and the same root of good and evil
men, against evangelical truth and apostolical teaching.
For our Lord says, that a good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit, nor an evil tree good fruit. And the Apostle