Theological Theses · §2316 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

The bondage of sin leaves the sinner free in sinning

Thesis LVI. We have also shown clearly enough that the Protestants teach that in the state of fallen nature man without grace is the slave of sin and a kind of captive. On their view, though, this bondage to sin does not prevent him from being carried freely into sin, and from turning away from and neglecting the good the law commands.

In this he fully exercises the freedom of his choice, since he acts without compulsion and from the deliberate judgement of a corrupt reason, and when he commits this sin or that one, he has the power to refrain from it.

Latin

LVI. Praeterea satis manifestum fecimus, Protestantes docere quidem in statu naturae lapsae, hominem sine gratia esse peccati servum, & veluti captivum: sed illam tamen peccati servitutem, secundum ipsos, non obstare, quominus libere in peccatum feratur, & bonum lege praeceptum aversetur & omittat; ac in eo Arbitrii sui libertatem plene exerceat; cum id faciat non coactus, & ex rationis corruptae deliberato judicio, ac quum hoc aut illud peccatum committit, potestatem habeat ab eo abstinendi.

Report a mistake in this passage