Theological Theses · §2589 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

Calixtus: man can resist grace, yet can care for the means of salvation

Thesis VII. On his view there is no doubt that a person can scorn and reject the grace offered and resist the Holy Spirit when he is about to produce faith, since God does not draw and convert people by his absolute power but according to the order and pattern he laid down once for all.

On the other hand, he holds, it is certain that a person can be anxious for his salvation and can take trouble over the means to it, as in the saying, 'Many will seek to enter and will not be able.' A person can hear God's word, and even receive it with all readiness and study it in an effort to learn and come to know the truth.

Latin

VII. Ex ejus enim sententia, nullum dubium est, quin homo oblatam gratiam spernere, rejicere, & Spiritui Sancto fidem operaturo resistere possit. Quoniam Deus homines absoluta sua potentia non trahit & convertit, verum hoc facit secundum ordinem & modum quem semel instituit. Contra vero certum est, hominem posse solicitum esse de sua salute, posse curam suscipere de mediis ad eam, juxta illud, Multi quaerent intrare & non poterunt. Quippe posse hominem audire verbum Dei, imo cum omni alacritate verbum suscipere & scrutari studio discendae & cognoscendae veritatis.

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