Cap. X Ultimum: Chrysostom sometimes overstates free will, yet elsewhere grace alone; Orthodox ‘preparing for grace’ means exciting grace leads on to justification
Chrysostom sometimes overstates free will’s powers, and dared to say we must first choose goods, then God brings what is his (Hom. 12 on Hebrews), and that divine mercy always seeks the worthy (Hom. 11 on 2 Corinthians)—yet elsewhere he shuts out good works and preaches grace alone. In short: when the Orthodox Fathers say grace is given to those disposing and preparing themselves for grace by labor, good desires, and faith’s beginning, they mean only that from exciting, inspiring grace men are carried—by belief’s affection and conversion’s desire—on to the grace of justification and fuller sanctification.
Latin
Chrysostomus, qui aliquando modum excedit in liberi arbitrii viribus exaggerandis, quique ausus est dicere, Nos primum bona eligere oportere, et tunc Deum adferre quae sua sunt, Hom. 12. in Epist. ad Hebr., Divinam misericordiam dignos semper conquirere, Hom. 11. in Epist. 2. ad Corinth., idem tamen alibi bona opera excludit, et solam gratiam depredicat. Ut paucis absolvam, quando Orthodoxi Patres gratiam dari dicunt disponentibus et praeparantibus se ad gratiam per laborem, per bona desideria, per fidei initium, non aliud velle putandi sunt, quam quod ex gratia excitante et inspirante hominibus credulitatis affectum et conversionis desiderium, ad gratiam justificationis et uberioris sanctificationis provehantur.