To Florus · §2.139

To Florus 2.139

Yet I have argued far too gently. Even if Christ were shown, from the time he came, to have blocked the road to death for all human beings and given everyone everlasting life—so that from the very day ‘the Word became flesh’ (John 1:14) absolutely no one fell into sin or feared punishment for sin—the first wickedness would still not have the same character as this later generosity. For God can and commonly does help the undeserving, earning praise for mercy; but he cannot punish those who have not sinned without overthrowing justice.

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