Augustine of Hippo · On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants · Book II
Passages · 59
Book II
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.1 — What Has Thus Far Been Dwelt On; And What is to Be Treated in This Book. Chapter 1 [I.]—What Has Thus Far Been Dwelt On; And What is to Be Treated in This Book. We have, my dearest Marcellinus, discussed at…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.2 — Some Persons Attribute Too Much to the Freedom of Man’s Will; Ignorance and Infirmity. Chapter 2 [II.]—Some Persons Attribute Too Much to the Freedom of Man’s Will; Ignorance and Infirmity. A solution is extremely…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.3 — In What Way God Commands Nothing Impossible. Works of Mercy, Means of Wiping Out Sins. Chapter 3 [III.]—In What Way God Commands Nothing Impossible. Works of Mercy, Means of Wiping Out Sins. Now these people imagine…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.4 — Concupiscence, How Far in Us; The Baptized are Not Injured by Concupiscence, But Only by Consent Therewith. Chapter 4 [IV.]—Concupiscence, How Far in Us; The Baptized are Not Injured by Concupiscence, But Only by…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.5 — The Will of Man Requires the Help of God. Now for the commission of sin we get no help from God; but we are not able to do justly, and to fulfil the law of righteousness in every part thereof, except we are helped by…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.6 — Wherein the Pharisee Sinned When He Thanked God; To God’s Grace Must Be Added the Exertion of Our Own Will. Chapter 6.—Wherein the Pharisee Sinned When He Thanked God; To God’s Grace Must Be Added the Exertion of Our…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.7 — Four Questions on the Perfection of Righteousness: (1.) Whether a Man Can Be Without Sin in This Life. Chapter 7 [VI.]—Four Questions on the Perfection of Righteousness: (1.) Whether a Man Can Be Without Sin in This…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.8 — (2) Whether There is in This World a Man Without Sin. [2nd.] If, however, I am asked the second question which I have suggested,—whether there be a sinless man,—I believe there is not. For I rather believe the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.9 — The Beginning of Renewal; Resurrection Called Regeneration; They are the Sons of God Who Lead Lives Suitable to Newness of Life. Chapter 9.—The Beginning of Renewal; Resurrection Called Regeneration; They are the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.10 — Perfection, When to Be Realized. Chapter 10 [VIII.]—Perfection, When to Be Realized. Our full adoption, then, as children, is to happen at the redemption of our body. It is therefore the first-fruits of the Spirit…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.11 — An Objection of the Pelagians: Why Does Not a Righteous Man Beget a Righteous Man?. Chapter 11 [IX.]—An Objection of the Pelagians: Why Does Not a Righteous Man Beget a Righteous Man? In vain, then, do some of them…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.12 — He Reconciles Some Passages of Scripture. The statement, therefore, “He that is born of God sinneth not,” is not contrary to the passage in which it is declared by those who are born of God, “If we say that we have…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.13 — A Subterfuge of the Pelagians. Daniel, indeed, after the prayer which he poured out before God, actually says respecting himself, “Whilst I was praying and confessing my sins, and the sins of my people, before the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.14 — Job Was Not Without Sin. But let us see what Job has to say of himself, after God’s great testimony of his righteousness. “I know of a truth,” he says, “that it is so: for how shall a mortal man be just before the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.15 — Carnal Generation Condemned on Account of Original Sin. He sets forth that this absolute weakness, or rather condemnation, of carnal generation is from the transgression of original sin, when, treating of his own…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.16 — Job Foresaw that Christ Would Come to Suffer; The Way of Humility in Those that are Perfect. Chapter 16—Job Foresaw that Christ Would Come to Suffer; The Way of Humility in Those that are Perfect. Now it is…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.17 — No One Righteous in All Things. Chapter 17 [XII.]—No One Righteous in All Things. That illustrious testimony of God, therefore, in which Job is commended, is not contrary to the passage in which it is said, “In Thy…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.18 — Perfect Human Righteousness is Imperfect. There are then on earth righteous men, there are great men, brave, prudent, chaste, patient, pious, merciful, who endure all kinds of temporal evil with an even mind for…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.19 — Zacharias and Elisabeth, Sinners. Now what must we say of Zacharias and Elisabeth, who are often alleged against us in discussions on this question, except that there is clear evidence in the Scripture that Zacharias…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.20 — Paul Worthy to Be the Prince of the Apostles, and Yet a Sinner. What commendation, however, is bestowed on Zacharias and Elisabeth which is not comprehended in what the apostle has said about himself before he…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.21 — All Righteous Men Sinners. Chapter 21 [XIV.]—All Righteous Men Sinners. In like manner, all who are described in the Scriptures as exhibiting in their present life good will and the actions of righteousness, and all…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.22 — An Objection of the Pelagians; Perfection is Relative; He is Rightly Said to Be Perfect in Righteousness Who Has Made Much Progress Therein. Chapter 22 [XV.]—An Objection of the Pelagians; Perfection is Relative; He…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.23 — Why God Prescribes What He Knows Cannot Be Observed. We must not deny that God commands that we ought to be so perfect in doing righteousness, as to have no sin at all. Now that cannot be sin, whatever it may be,…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.24 — An Objection of the Pelagians. The Apostle Paul Was Not Free From Sin So Long as He Lived. Chapter 24.—An Objection of the Pelagians. The Apostle Paul Was Not Free From Sin So Long as He Lived. “But see,” say they,…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.25 — God Punishes Both in Wrath and in Mercy. Although there are some men who are so eminent in righteousness that God speaks to them out of His cloudy pillar, such as “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.26 — (3)Why No One in This Life is Without Sin. Chapter 26 [XVII.] — (3) Why No One in This Life is Without Sin. [3d.] Let us now consider the point which I mentioned as our third inquiry. Since by divine grace assisting…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.27 — The Divine Remedy for Pride. You cannot therefore attribute to God the cause of any human fault. For of all human offences, the cause is pride. For the conviction and removal of this a great remedy comes from heaven.…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.28 — A Good Will Comes from God. Men, however, are laboring to find in our own will some good thing of our own,—not given to us by God; but how it is to be found I cannot imagine. The apostle says, when speaking of men’s…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.29 — A Subterfuge of the Pelagians. Now, with reference to the passage of the apostle which I have quoted, some would maintain it to mean that “whatever amount of good will a man has, must be attributed to God on this…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.30 — All Will is Either Good, and Then It Loves Righteousness, or Evil, When It Does Not Love Righteousness. Chapter 30.—All Will is Either Good, and Then It Loves Righteousness, or Evil, When It Does Not Love…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.31 — Grace is Given to Some Men in Mercy; Is Withheld from Others in Justice and Truth. Chapter 31.—Grace is Given to Some Men in Mercy; Is Withheld from Others in Justice and Truth. Forasmuch then as our turning away…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.32 — God’s Sovereignity in His Grace. As to the reason why He wills to convert some, and to punish others for turning away,—although nobody can justly censure the merciful One in conferring His blessing, nor can any man…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.33 — Through Grace We Have Both the Knowledge of Good, and the Delight Which It Affords. Chapter 33.—Through Grace We Have Both the Knowledge of Good, and the Delight Which It Affords. But when we pray Him to give us His…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.34 — (4) That No Man, with the Exception of Christ, Has Ever Lived, or Can Live Without Sin. Chapter 34 [XX.]—(4) That No Man, with the Exception of Christ, Has Ever Lived, or Can Live Without Sin. [4th.] There now…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.35 — Adam and Eve; Obedience Most Strongly Enjoined by God on Man. When the first human beings—the one man Adam, and his wife Eve who came out of him—willed not to obey the commandment which they had received from God, a…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.36 — Man’s State Before the Fall. Before they had thus violated their obedience they were pleasing to God, and God was pleasing to them; and though they carried about an animal body, they yet felt in it no disobedience…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.37 — The Corruption of Nature is by Sin, Its Renovation is by Christ. From this law of sin is born the flesh of sin, which requires cleansing through the sacrament of Him who came in the likeness of sinful flesh, that the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.38 — Chapter 38 [XXIV.]—What Benefit Has Been Conferred on Us by the Incarnation of the Word; Christ’s Birth in the Flesh, Wherein It is Like and Wherein Unlike Our Own Birth. He goes on to add, “And the Word was made…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.39 — An Objection of Pelagians. Chapter 39 [XXV.]—An Objection of Pelagians. The answer, which we have already given, to those who say, “If a sinner has begotten a sinner, a righteous man ought also to have begotten a…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.40 — An Argument Anticipated. And let no one contend that the descendants of Abraham might fairly enough have paid tithes, although they had already paid tithes in the loins of their forefather, seeing that paying tithes…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.41 — Children of Believers are Called ‘Clean’ By the Apostle. The apostle indeed says, “Else were your children unclean, but now are they holy;” and “therefore” they infer “there was no necessity for the children of…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.42 — Sanctification Manifold; Sacrament of Catechumens. Our opinions on this point are strictly in unison with the apostle’s himself, who said, “From one all to condemnation,” and “from one all to justification of life.”…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.43 — Why the Children of the Baptized Should Be Baptized. If any man, however, is still perplexed by the question why the children of baptized persons are baptized, let him briefly consider this: Inasmuch as the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.44 — An Objection of the Pelagians. Nor do they fail to see this point, that his own sins are no detriment to the parent after his conversion; they therefore raise the question: “How much more impossible is it that they…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.45 — The Law of Sin is Called Sin; How Concupiscence Still Remains After Its Evil Has Been Removed in the Baptized. Chapter 45 [XXVIII.]—The Law of Sin is Called Sin; How Concupiscence Still Remains After Its Evil Has…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.46 — Guilt May Be Taken Away But Concupiscence Remain. You must not be surprised at what I have said, that although the law of sin remains with its concupiscence, the guilt thereof is done away through the grace of the…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.47 — All the Predestinated are Saved Through the One Mediator Christ, and by One and the Same Faith. Chapter 47 [XXIX.]—All the Predestinated are Saved Through the One Mediator Christ, and by One and the Same Faith. This…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.48 — Christ the Saviour Even of Infants; Christ, When an Infant, Was Free from Ignorance and Mental Weakness. Chapter 48.—Christ the Saviour Even of Infants; Christ, When an Infant, Was Free from Ignorance and Mental…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.49 — An Objection of the Pelagians. Chapter 49 [XXX.]—An Objection of the Pelagians. They therefore who say, “If through the sin of the first man it was brought about that we must die, by the coming of Christ it should be…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.50 — Why It is that Death Itself is Not Abolished, Along with Sin, by Baptism. Chapter 50 [XXXI.]—Why It is that Death Itself is Not Abolished, Along with Sin, by Baptism. He might, however, have also conferred this upon…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.51 — Why the Devil is Said to Hold the Power and Dominion of Death. Hence the Lord Himself willed to die, “in order that,” as it is written of Him, “through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is,…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.52 — Why Christ, After His Resurrection, Withdrew His Presence from the World. Chapter 52 [XXXII.]—Why Christ, After His Resurrection, Withdrew His Presence from the World. Although, therefore, the Lord wrought many…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.53 — An Objection of the Pelagians. Chapter 53 [XXXIII.]—An Objection of the Pelagians. But those persons who say, “If the death of the body has happened by sin, we of course ought not to die after that remission of sins…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.54 — Why Punishment is Still Inflicted, After Sin Has Been Forgiven. But, inasmuch as there are not wanting persons of such character, just as we say in answer to those who raise this question, that those things are…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.55 — To Recover the Righteousness Which Had Been Lost by Sin, Man Has to Struggle, with Abundant Labour and Sorrow. Chapter 55.—To Recover the Righteousness Which Had Been Lost by Sin, Man Has to Struggle, with Abundant…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.56 — The Case of David, in Illustration. Some such thought has occurred to us about the patriarch David, in the Book of Kings. After the prophet was sent to him, and threatened him with the evils which were to arise from…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.57 — Turn to Neither Hand. Chapter 57 [XXXV.]—Turn to Neither Hand. Let us hold fast, then, the confession of this faith, without faltering or failure. One alone is there who was born without sin, in the likeness of…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.58 — 'Likeness of Sinful Flesh' Implies the Reality. It is no small concession to the authority and truthfulness of the inspired pages which those persons have made, who, although unwilling to admit openly in their…vatican.va
- On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants II.59 — Chapter 59.—Whether the Soul is Propagated; On Obscure Points, Concerning Which the Scriptures Give Us No Assistance, We Must Be on Our Guard Against Forming Hasty Judgments and Opinions; The Scriptures are Clear…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 228 verses
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