Глава IX

Expression of the Apostle John: Grace upon grace 21. You may ask whether we read in the Holy Books a similar expression: grace upon grace. But you have the Gospel of John, most famous for its great light, where John the Baptist speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ: And of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace 119. So, from His fullness we have received, in our measure, as if our particles, so that we may live well, as [it is said]: God has allocated [to each] according to the measure of faith 120 , since each has his own gift from God, one this way, another another 121 - this is [simply] grace. But besides this, we will also receive grace upon grace when we are given eternal life, about which the apostle says: And the grace of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, whereas he said above: the wages of sin is death 122. And this retribution is deserved, since eternal death is rewarded for serving the devil as something due. Here he could well have said, and said rightly: “And the reward for righteousness is eternal life,” but he preferred to say: And the grace of God is eternal life, so that from here we understand that God brings us to eternal life not according to our merits, but according to His mercy. In the psalm the man of God speaks to his soul about this mercy: He crowns you with mercy and mercy 123. Is it not for good deeds that a crown is rewarded? But since these good deeds themselves are produced in good people by the One about whom it is said: Because God produces in you both desire and action of good will, 124 then the psalm says: He crowns you with mercy and mercy, because by His mercy we do good deeds, for which we are rewarded with a crown. And it should not be considered that he destroys free decision, since he says: Because God works in you both to desire and to act of your own free will. If this were so, then he would not have said above: Work out your salvation with fear and trembling 125. After all, when he commands something to be done, he turns to their free decision, but with fear and trembling, so that, attributing to themselves what they do good, they do not become proud of their supposed deeds. So, the apostle seems to be having a conversation, and when they asked him: “Why did you say: With fear and trembling”? – he offers the basis of these words, saying: Because God is working in you [both desire and action]. For if you fear and tremble, you will not be proud of your supposed good works, since it is God who works them in you. 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. Ps 102:4. To the Synod. trans.: mercy and bounty.