Mozley: A Treatise on the Augustinian Doctrine of

216 Augustinian Doctrine CHAP, vm,
to the Pelagian, who presses him continually with the con
sequences of his doctrine, and asks how a being, who is
literally unable to turn to good from the moment of his
birth, can be treated as a free agent and responsible for
his acts, he answers simply that he is so, inasmuch as he
has a will. He does what he does with his will, and not
against it. No force has compelled him to act contrary to
his inclination, but he has acted according to his inclina
tion. He has therefore acted as a free agent, and he is
responsible for his acts. What more is wanted for respon
sibility than that a man has acted willingly, and without
constraint? Why perplex a very plain subject. He is
free for evil a free
(i.e. agent in doing evil) who acts with
an evil will. He is free for good (i.e. a free agent in doing
good) who acts with a l
good will. Men are not forced
by the necessity of the flesh into sin, as if they were un
willing (quasi inviti) ; but if they are of an age to use
their own choice, they are both retained in sin by their will,
and precipitated from one sin to another by their will. For
he who persuades and deceives them does not work anything
in them, but that they sin with their will. 2 The will is
that with which we sin, and with which we live well
voluntas est qua et peccatur et recte vivitur. 3
It is
enough for freedom, according to these statements, if we
sin by or with the consent of our will.
Another answer to this is
difficulty more subtle and
intricate. The sin of our nature is voluntary, and men are
responsible for it, because this sin proceeds from a selfdetermining
human will in the first instance ; the sin of
the first man or the original sin having been committed
1
Quid aperta implicas loquacitate bitrio et in , peccato sua voluntatc
perplexa? Ad malum liber est, qui retinentur, et a peccato in peccatum
voluntate agit mala : ad bonum au- sua voluntate prsecipitantur. Neque
tern liber est qui voluntate agit enim agit in eis qui suadet et decipit,
bona. Op. Imp. 1. 3. c. 120. nisi ut peccatum voluntate commit-
1 Non itaque, sicut dicunt nos tant. Contra Duas, 1. Ep. I.e. 3.
quidem dicere, et iste audet insuper Liberum arbitrium usque adeo
"
scribere, omnes in peccatum, velut in peccatore non periit, ut per illud
inviti, carnis suse necessitate co- peccent, maxime omnes qui cum
guntur:" sed, si jam in ea setate delectatione peccant. Ibid. 1. I.e. 2.
guut ut proprise mentis utantur ar-
8 Ketract. 1. I.e. 9.