Глава XV

Our will is always free, but not always good 31. And so that no one thinks that people themselves, through their free decision, do not [need] to do anything here, then the psalm says: Do not desire to harden your hearts 155. And through the same prophet Ezekiel it is said: Cast away from you all your sins that you have committed against Me, and create for yourself a new heart and a new spirit, and fulfill all My commandments. Why should you die, O house of Israel, says the Lord? For I do not want the death of the dying, says the Lord God, but turn and you will live 156. Let us remember that He says: Turn and you will live, to Whom they cry: Turn us, O God 157. Let us remember what He says: Cast away from you all your sins, Who Himself justifies the sinner 158 . Let us remember what He says: Create for yourself a new heart and a new spirit. Who said: I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you 159. So, how does the One who says: Create for yourself, also say: I will give to you? Why does he command if He Himself intends to give? Why does he give it if a person needs to do it? Doesn’t he give what he commands when he helps, so that the one he commands does it? For our will is always free, but not always good. After all, she is either free from righteousness when she serves sin, and then she is evil; or is free from sin when she serves righteousness 160, and then she is good. But the grace of God is always good, and thanks to it, someone who was previously characterized by an evil will becomes a person with a good will. With the help of this grace, it is also accomplished that the good will itself, having begun to exist [in man], grows and becomes so great that it can already fulfill those Divine commandments that it wants to fulfill, if only it wants to completely and completely. For this applies to what was said: If you want, you will fulfill the commandments 161. This is how it is written so that a person who wants and cannot understand that he still does not want enough, and turns [to God] with a prayer so that he can have such a will that will be enough to fulfill the commandments. After all, in this way support will be provided to him so that he can do what is commanded. For then it is useful to desire when we can, and then it is useful to be able when we desire it; and what good is it if we desire what we cannot, or do not desire what we can? De gratia et libero arbitrio (CPL 352). Translation based on the publication: Patrologiae Cursus Completus. Series Latina. Accurante J.-P. Migne. Paris, 1845. T. 44, Col. 881–912. Sir 15 (according to LXX). To the Synod. trans.: If you want. Keep the commandments.