Against Two Letters of the Pelagians, Book IV

Book IV

• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.1 — The Subterfuges of the Pelagians are Five. After the matters which I have considered, and to which I have answered, they repeat the same things as those contained in the letter which I have refuted, but in a…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.2 — The Praise of the Creature. They accomplish the praise of the creature, inasmuch as it pertains to the human race of which the question now is, in these statements: “That God is the Maker of all those that are born,…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.3 — The Catholics Praise Nature, Marriage, Law, Free Will, and the Saints, in Such Wise as to Condemn as Well Pelagians as Manicheans. Chapter 3 [III.]—The Catholics Praise Nature, Marriage, Law, Free Will, and the…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.4 — Pelagians and Manicheans on the Praise of the Creature. These things being so, what advantage is it to new heretics, enemies of the cross of Christ and opposers of divine grace, that they seem sound from the error of…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.5 — What is the Special Advantage in the Pelagian Opinions?. What advantage, then, is it to them that they say “that all sin descends not from nature, but from the will,” and resist by the truth of this judgment the…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.6 — Not Death Alone, But Sin Also Has Passed into Us by Means of Adam. In that particular, indeed, wherein they say “that death passed to us by Adam, not sins,” they have not the Manicheans as their adversaries: since…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.7 — What is the Meaning of ‘In Whom All Have Sinned’?. But these speak thus who wish to wrest men from the apostle’s words into their own thought. For where the apostle says, “By one man sin entered into the world, and…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.8 — Death Passed Upon All by Sin. But on account of what does the same apostle say, that we are reconciled to God by Christ, except on account of what we had become enemies? And what is this but sin? Whence also the…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.9 — Of the Praise of Marriage. But further, concerning the praise of marriage, what advantage is it to them that, in opposition to the Manicheans, who assign marriage not to the true and good God, but to the prince of…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.10 — Of the Praise of the Law. Once more, in the praise of the law, what advantage is it to them that, in opposition to the Manicheans, they say the truth when they wish to bring men from that view to this which they hold…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.11 — The Pelagians Understand that the Law Itself is God’s Grace. But those enemies of grace never endeavour to lay more secret snares for more vehement opposition to that same grace than when they praise the law, which,…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.12 — Of the Praise of Free Will. Moreover, that, in opposition to the Manicheans, they praise free will, making use of the prophetic testimony, “If ye shall be willing and will hear me, ye shall eat what is good in the…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.13 — God’s Purposes are Effects of Grace. What does it profit them, that in the praise of that same free will “they say that grace assists the good purpose of every one”? This would be received without scruple as being…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.14 — The Testimonies of Scripture in Favour of Grace. For that very pride has so stopped the ears of their heart that they do not hear, “For what hast thou that thou hast not received?” They do not hear, “Without me ye…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.15 — From Such Scriptures Grace is Proved to Be Gratuitous and Effectual. What remained to the carrion skin whence it might be puffed up, and could disdain when it glories to glory in the Lord? What remained to it, when…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.16 — Why God Makes of Some Sheep, Others Not. But wherefore does God make these men sheep, and those not, since with Him there is no acceptance of persons? This is the very question which the blessed apostle thus answers…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.17 — Of the Praise of the Saints. Chapter 17 [VII.]—Of the Praise of the Saints. In that, indeed, in the praise of the saints, they will not drive us with the zeal of that publican to hunger and thirst after…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.19 — The Craft of the Pelagians. And if these things be so, let the Pelagians cease by their most insidious praises of these five things—that is, the praise of the creature, the praise of marriage, the praise of the law,…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.20 — The Testimonies of the Ancients Against the Pelagians. But since they say “that their enemies have taken up our words for hatred of the truth,” and complained that “throughout nearly the whole of the West a dogma not…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.21 — Pelagius, in Imitation of Cyprian, Wrote a Book of Testimonies. Even that heresiarch of these men, Pelagius himself, mentions with the honour that is certainly due to him, the most blessed Cyprian, most glorious with…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.22 — Further References to Cyprian. For he says also this in the epistle whose title is inscribed, “On the Mortality:” “The kingdom of God, beloved brethren, is beginning to be at hand; the reward of life, and the…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.23 — Further References to Cyprian. And in the epistle which he wrote with sixty-six of his joint-bishops to Bishop Fidus, when he was consulted by him in respect of the law of circumcision, whether an infant might be…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.24 — The Dilemma Proposed to the Pelagians. What will be said to such things as these, by those who are not only the forsakers, but also the persecutors of God’s grace? What will they say to such things as these? On what…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.25 — Cyprian’s Testimonies Concerning God’s Grace. But now it plainly appears in what way Cyprian proclaims the grace of God against such as these, when he is arguing about the Lord’s Prayer. For he says: “We say, ‘May…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.26 — Further Appeals to Cyprian’s Teaching. Does that holy and so memorable instructor of the Churches in the word of truth, deny that there is free will in men, because he attributes to God the whole of your righteous…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.27 — Cyprian’s Testimonies Concerning the Imperfection of Our Own Righteousness. Chapter 27 [X.]—Cyprian’s Testimonies Concerning the Imperfection of Our Own Righteousness. Let us, then, see that third point, which in…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.28 — Cyprian’s Orthodoxy Undoubted. Let the Pelagians say, if they dare, that this man of God was perverted by the error of the Manicheans, in so praising the saints as yet to confess that no one in this life had attained…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.29 — The Testimonies of Ambrose Against the Pelagians and First of All Concerning Original Sin. Chapter 29 [XI.]—The Testimonies of Ambrose Against the Pelagians and First of All Concerning Original Sin. But now also to…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.30 — The Testimonies of Ambrose Concerning God’s Grace. The Pelagians say that merit begins from man by free will, to which God repays the subsequent aid of grace. Let the venerable Ambrose here also refute them, when he…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.31 — The Testimonies of Ambrose on the Imperfection of Present Righteousness. But now, since the Pelagians say that there either are or have been righteous men in this life who have lived without any sin, to such an…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.32 — The Pelagian’s Heresy Arose Long After Ambrose. It would be too long if I were to seek to mention everything which the holy Ambrose said and wrote against this heresy of the Pelagians, which was to arise so long…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.33 — Opposition of the Manichean and Catholic Dogmas. What is it, then, which in their raging blindness of mind they are now spreading about, “that almost throughout the entire West a dogma not less foolish than impious…vatican.va
• Against Two Letters of the Pelagians IV.34 — The Calling Together of a Synod Not Always Necessary to the Condemnation of Heresies. Chapter 34.—The Calling Together of a Synod Not Always Necessary to the Condemnation of Heresies. What is it, then, that they say,…vatican.va