Theological Theses · §2568 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

Against Molina: equal grace, unequal outcome is impossible

Thesis CXXXI. These doctors therefore refuse to say with Molina that of two people forestalled by equal grace, one may be converted and the other not. Whoever is converted has always received more grace from God than the one who is not. Granted grace equal in every respect among several people, either all will be converted or none will.

In their opinion it may well be that, as regards the divine aid that goes before him, the convert has no brighter illumination of mind and no stronger motion of the will than the one who is not converted. They even allow that the mind of someone who stays rebellious may be lit more clearly by the divine Spirit, and his will struck more forcefully and keenly, than in someone actually brought to conversion and faith by efficacious grace. Yet in the convert the divine motion, whether greater or smaller, always counts on their view as greater grace, because it is suited and attuned to the disposition of the one receiving it. It thus springs from a more striking goodwill of God toward him and works to his greater benefit.

Latin

CXXXI. Itaque Doctores illi cum Molina dici nolunt ex duobus qui aequali gratia praeventi sunt contingere posse ut unus convertatur, alter non convertatur. Nam qui convertitur, semper majorem gratiam a Deo accepit, quam ille qui non convertitur. Supposita vero in pluribus omni ex parte aequali gratia, vel omnes convertentur, vel nullus convertetur. Ex eorum mente fieri quidem potest, ut in eo qui convertitur non sit, ex parte auxilii divini quo praevenitur, major mentis illustratio, & vehementior voluntatis motio, quam in eo qui non convertitur. Quin admittunt fieri posse ut in eo qui rebellis manet, mens spiritu divino luculentius illustretur, & voluntas fortius & vividius percellatur, quam in eo qui reipsa per gratiam efficacem ad conversionem & fidem adducitur. Sed in eo qui convertitur, qualiscunque divina motio, sive major sive minor, majoris gratiae semper, juxta ipsos, rationem habet, quoniam dispositioni illius qui recipit accommodata, & contemperata est; adeoque ex insigniori benevolentia Dei erga ipsum procedit, & cedit in majorem ejus utilitatem.

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