Mozley: A Treatise on the Augustinian Doctrine of

CHAP. vi. Doctrine of Grace. 163
In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything,
nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 1 We are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which (rod hath before ordained, that we should walk in
them. 2
This language, however, receives in Scripture a limita
tion of meaning from the general doctrine of man s freewill
which Scripture inculcates. But Augustine uses this
language absolutely, and adds to its strength and definiteness.
Thus, (rod makes men good in order that they
may do good acts ipse ergo illos bonos facit ut bona
faciant 3 4
God makes faith fidem gentium facit
He makes men believers facit credentes h God makes
6 men to persevere in good. God calls whom He vouch
safes to call, and makes whom He will religious Deus
quos dignatur vocat, et quern vult : religiosum facit a
saying of S. Cyprian s, often quoted, on which he affixes a
literal meaning. Man never does good things which God
does not make him do qua3 non facit Deus ut faciat
homo. 7 The Holy Spirit not only assists good minds,
but makes them good non solum mentes bonas adjuvat,
8 verum etiam bonas eas facit. There is a creation, not
that by which we were made men, but that of which a man
"
"
create a clean heart in me and
;
already created spoke,
" that of which speaks the Apostle, If any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature." We are therefore fashioned and
created in good works, which we have not ourselves pre
pared, but God, that we should walk in them. 9
Nor is this language used by S. Augustine in a qualified
sense, simply to express vividly the power of God s assisting
grace, as if giving and creating were meant by Him to be
conditional upon, and supplemental to, a certain exertion
of man s own freewill, understood though not expressed ;
for he distinctly disclaims this qualification, making a
difference in this very respect between the gift of obedience
1 Gal. vi. 15.
2
Eph.
ii. 10.
1 De Corr. et Grat. c. xii.
4 De Prsed. c. ii.
* Ibid. c. xvii.
6 De Corr. et Grat c. xii.
7 Contra Duas, Ep. 1. 2. c. xxi.
8
Ibid. 1. 4. c. vii.
9 De Grat. et Lib. Arb. c. 8.