Глава XXIII

45. Therefore, when you see that under the same circumstances, which are undoubtedly common to all infants who receive the hereditary evil (haereditarium malum) from Adam, one is granted to be baptized, and another is not granted, so that he dies in these bonds [of sin]; one baptized person is left in this life, although God knows in advance about his future wickedness, and another baptized person is delighted from this life, so that malice does not change his mind 261 - [so, when you see all this], attribute this to the secret judgments of God and do not dare on the basis of this to attribute injustice or unreason to God, for with Him is the source of justice and wisdom. As I convinced you at the beginning of this discussion, [so I convince you now]: walk in what you have achieved, and God will reveal everything else to you, 262 if not in this life, then certainly in the next, for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed 263 . Therefore, when you hear the Lord say: I, the Lord, deceived that prophet, 264 or the Apostle says: He has mercy on whomever He wants, and He hardens whomever He wants, 265 then in relation to the fact that [the Lord] allows one to be deceived or hardens, think about the evil merits of [these people], and in relation to the fact that He has mercy on someone, confess faithfully and undoubtedly the rewarding grace of God for evil not with evil, but with good. Therefore, you should not deprive Pharaoh of his free decision on the grounds that God repeatedly says: I have hardened Pharaoh, or: I have hardened (or will harden) Pharaoh’s heart 266 . After all, this does not mean that Pharaoh himself did not harden his heart. Here we read the following about him: when the dog flies were removed from the Egyptians, then, according to the word of Scripture, this time Pharaoh hardened his heart and did not want to let the people go 267 . Therefore, God hardened [Pharaoh’s heart] by His just judgment, and Pharaoh himself by his free decision. So, be sure that your work will not be in vain, if only you remain successful to the end in your good undertaking. For God, who [now] only does not reward those whom He frees according to their deeds, will in the next century reward everyone according to their deeds 268 . After all, God will repay evil for evil, since He is just, and good for evil, since He is good, and good for good, since He is just and good [at the same time], but He will not repay evil with evil, since He is not unjust. So, he will repay evil for evil - [that is] punishment for injustice; will repay good for evil - grace for injustice; He will reward good for good - grace for grace 269. 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. Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:20, 27 .