[VII.] and for the obtaining of which we pray that we may not be led into temptation.48    Matt. vi. 13. This grace is not nature, but that which renders assistance to frail and corrupted nature. This grace is not the knowledge of the law, but is that of which the apostle says: “I will not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”49    Gal. ii. 21. Therefore it is not “the letter that killeth, but the life-giving spirit.”50    2 Cor. iii. 6. For the knowledge of the law, without the grace of the Spirit, produces all kinds of concupiscence in man; for, as the apostle says, “I had not known sin but by the law: I had not known lust, unless the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.”51    Rom. vii. 7, 8. By saying this, however, he blames not the law; he rather praises it, for he says afterwards: “The law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”52    Rom. vii. 12. And he goes on to ask: “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, wrought death in me by that which is good.”53    Rom. vii. 13. And, again, he praises the law by saying: “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I know not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.”54    Rom. vii. 14–16. Observe, then, he knows the law, praises it, and consents to it; for what it commands, that he also wishes; and what it forbids, and condemns, that he also hates: but for all that, what he hates, that he actually does. There is in his mind, therefore, a knowledge of the holy law of God, but still his evil concupiscence is not cured. He has a good will within him, but still what he does is evil. Hence it comes to pass that, amidst the mutual struggles of the two laws within him,—“the law in his members warring against the law of his mind, and making him captive to the law of sin,”55    Rom. vii. 23.—he confesses his misery; and exclaims in such words as these: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death? The grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”56    Rom. vii. 24, 25.

CAPUT VII.

Et pro qua impetranda oramus, ne intremus in tentationem (Matth. VI, 13). Haec gratia non est natura: sed qua subvenitur fragili vitiataeque naturae. Haec gratia non est legis scientia: sed ea est, de qua dicit Apostolus, Non irritam faciam gratiam Dei: nam si per legem justitia, ergo Christus gratis mortuus est (Galat. II, 21): et ideo non est littera occidens, sed spiritus vivificans. Scientia quippe legis sine gratia spiritus, operatur in homine omnem concupiscentiam. Peccatum, enim, inquit, non cognovi, nisi per legem: nam concupiscentiam nesciebam, nisi lex diceret, Non concupisces. Occasione autem accepta, peccatum per mandatum operatum est in me omnem concupiscentiam. Nec ista dicendo legem vituperat, imo etiam laudat, cum dicit: Lex quidem sancta, et mandatum sanctum, et justum, et bonum, Quod ergo bonum est, inquit, mihi factum est mors? Absit: sed peccatum, ut appareat peccatum, per bonum mihi operatum est mortem. Et iterum legem laudat, dicendo: Scimus enim quod lex spiritualis est; ego autem carnalis sum, venumdatus sub peccato. Quod enim operor ignoro. Non enim quod volo, hoc ago: sed quod odi, illud facio. Si autem quod nolo, hoc facio; consentio legi, quoniam bona est. Ecce jam legem novit, laudat, eique consentit, hoc est, eam bonam esse consentit: quoniam quod illa jubet, hoc et ipse vult; et quod illa vetat et damnat, hoc et ipse odit: et tamen quod odit, hoc facit. Inest ergo legis sanctae scientia, nec tamen sanatur vitiosa concupiscentia: inest voluntas bona, et valet operatio mala. Hinc est quod duabus legibus inter se colluctantibus, dum legi mentis lex repugnat in membris; et captivat sub lege peccati, a confitente exclamatur, et dicitur: Infelix ego homo, quis me liberabit de corpore mortis hujus? Gratia Dei per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum.