Mozley: A Treatise on the Augustinian Doctrine of

1 88 Augmtinian Doctrine CHAP. vn.
with an eternal Divine decree which has predestinated them
to the privilege of it. This is quite evident from the pre
vious chapter, and requires strictly no further proof. For
there is no necessity, after it has been shown that all good
ness under the Christian dispensation is on the Augustinian
doctrine a free and absolute Divine gift, to show that a
particular measure and degree of it is upon the same doc
trine such a gift ; and final perseverance is, as I have shown,
only a particular measure and degree of goodness ;
such a
as avails for the man s salvation. What is said
one, viz.,
of the whole is of course said of the part. Nevertheless,
the grace of final perseverance occupies so prominent a
place in the Augustinian system, that it appears proper to
explain the position of this grace in particular, and to
show that what is said of grace in general is said of this
measure of it.
In the first place, then, S. Augustine says generally that
final perseverance is a gift. Will any one dare to assert
that final perseverance is not the gift of Grod ? . . . . We
cannot deny that final perseverance is a great gift of Grod,
coming down from Him of whom it is "
written, Every good
gift and every perfect gift is from above, and corneth down
*
from the Father of Perseverance is the lights."
gift of
Grod, by virtue of which a man perseveres in Christ unto
the end. 2 We pray that the unbelieving may believe :
faith, therefore, is the gift of Grod. We pray
that the
believing may persevere : final perseverance, therefore, is
the gift of Grod. 3
Why is perseverance asked of Grod, if
it is not given by Grod ? It is mocking Him to ask Him
for what you know He does not give, for what you can give
"
yourself. We pray Hallowed be Thy name :" that is to
say, we pray that, having been sanctified in baptism, we
may persevere in that beginning. We pray, therefore, for
perseverance in sanctification If we receive that
perseverance, then, we receive it as the gift of God, that
great gift by which His other gifts are preserved. 4 He
makes men to persevere in good who makes men good. He
1 De Corr. et Grat. c. vi.
2 De Dono Pers. c. i.
3 Ibid. c. iii.
* Ibid. c. ii.