9 October 2015 A.D. 10th of 39 Articles, “Of Free Will”—Archbishop Sandys

9 October 2015 A.D. 10th of 39 Articles, “Of Free Will”—Archbishop Sandys

Article X—Of Free-Will.
      The condition of Man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God: wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will. 
      Archbishop Sandys – “But what, is it in our own will and power to return? or doth God command that which is impossible for us to perform?  Truth it is ‘all our sufficiency is of God.’  Of ourselves we are not able to think a good thought.  It is God that giveth both to will and to perform.  ‘Without me,’ saith Christ, ‘you are able to do nothing.’  No doubt we have power and free will to run from God; but to draw near unto him is his grace and gift.  ‘Ad malum sufficit sibi liberum arbitrium, ad bonum non,’ ‘free will hath in itself ability enough to evil but none to good.’  He commandeth us therefore to do that which of ourselves we arc not able to do, that seeing our want we may crave his grace and help, which will enable us to draw near unto him.  ‘Convert us, O Lord, and we shall be converted.’  If he convert us not, we shall remain as we are, or rather, proceed to worse.  ‘No man cometh unto me,’ saith Christ, ‘except the Father draw him.’  The Spirit and grace of God, of (the) untoward and unwilling, maketh forward and ready; and so by the efficacy of the Spirit being changed, we which were far off are drawn near.” – Sermons.

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