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AND THKIR REFUTATION. 153
gamus, atque valeamus." Who, without Grace, could fulfil the
first and most important of all precepts, to love God ?
"
Charity
is from God"
(I. John, iv, 7).
" The charity of God is poured
forth into our hearts by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us"
(Rom. v, 5). Holy charity is a pure gift of God, and we cannot
"
obtain it by our own strength. Amor Dei, quo pervenitur ad
Deum, non est nisi a Deo," as St. Augustin says (2). Without
Grace how could we conquer temptations, especially grievous
"
1 was over
ones ? Hear what David says :
Being pushed,
turned, that I might fall, but the Lord me" supported (Psalms,
" And Solomon : says No
cxvii, 13).
one can be continent (that
is, resist temptations to concupiscence), except God gave it"
(Wisdom, viii, 21). Hence, the Apostle, speaking of the temp
tations which assault us, says :
" But in all these things we over
come, because of him that hath loved us" (Rom. viii, 37). And
again,
" Thanks
be to God, who always maketh us to triumph in
Christ" (II. Cor. ii, 14). St. Paul, therefore, thanks God for
the victory over temptations, acknowledging that he conquers
them by the power of Grace. St. Augustin (3) says, that this
gratitude would be in vain if the victory was not a gift
"
of God :
Irrisoria est enim ilia actio gratiarum, si ob hoc gratia} aguntur
Deo, quod non donavit ipse, nee fecit." All this proves how
necessary Grace is to us, either to do good or avoid evil.
4. Let us consider the theological reason for the necessity of
Grace. The means should always be proportioned to the end.
Now, our eternal salvation consists in enjoying God face to face,
which is, without doubt, a supernatural end ; therefore, the
means which conduce to this end should be of a supernatural
order, likewise. Now, every thing which conduces to salvation
is a means of salvation ; and, consequently, our natural strength
is not sufficient to make us do anything, in order to eternal
salvation, unless it is elevated by Grace, for nature cannot do
what is beyond its strength, and an action of a supernatural
order is so. Besides our weak natural powers, which are not
able to accomplish supernatural acts, we have the corruption of
our nature, occasioned by sin, which even is a stronger proof to
us of the necessity of Grace.
(2) St. Augus. /. 4, con. Julian, c. 3. (3) St. Augus. loc. cit. ad Corinth.