Skip to content

A work on the proceedings of pelagius, In One Book, addressed to bishop aurelius [of carthage], by aurelius augustin; written about the commencement of the year, a.d. 417

Chapter 56 [XXXI.]—Is Pelagius Sincere?

Page 399 of 1,079

How, then, can it be believed that Pelagius (if indeed this epistle is his) could have been sincere, when he acknowledged the grace of God, which is not nature with its free will, nor the knowledge of the law, nor simply the forgiveness of sins, but a something which is necessary to each of our actions; or could have sincerely anathematized everybody who entertained the contrary opinion:—seeing that in his epistle he set forth even the ease wherewith a man can avoid sinning (concerning which no question had arisen at this trial) just as if the judges had come to an agreement to receive even this word, and said nothing about the grace of God, by the confession and subsequent addition of which he escaped the penalty of condemnation by the Church?

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Volume 5, ed. Philip Schaff (1886–89). Public domain. Text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.