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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