Theological Theses · §1754 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

The Reformed hold that free choice belongs to the rational creature and was not lost by sin

Yet all the Reformed consistently hold that free choice, taken simply and in its own nature and essence, cannot be separated from a rational creature. So sin did not wholly remove man's power to act freely.

Indeed, man corrupted by sin acts no less freely in what he does than he did before sin. If he is left to himself and gives way to sin, he does it with complete freedom. If grace moves and rouses him to pursue a better life, those acts are free too, and the efficacy of God's grace takes nothing away from his will's freedom.

Latin

II. Sed constans est Reformatorum omnium sententia liberum arbitrium simpliciter consideratum, & secundum propriam naturam atque essentiam, esse aliquid quod a creatura rationali separari non potest: adeoque libere agendi facultatem ab homine per peccatum prorsus sublatam non fuisse: imo hominem per peccatum corruptum non minus libere agere quae agit, quam agebat ante peccatum: ac seu sibi relictus peccato indulgeat, id plane summa cum libertate facere; sive per gratiam motus & excitatus meliori vitae studeat, actus illius quoque liberos esse, neque per gratiae Dei efficaciam quicquam libertati voluntatis ejus praejudicari.

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