Chapter 37.—We Were Elected and Predestinated, Not Because We Were Going to Be Holy, But in Order that We Might Be So.

It would be too tedious to argue about the several points. But you see without doubt, you see with what evidence of apostolic declaration this grace is defended, in opposition to which human merits are set up, as if man should first give something for it to be recompensed to him again. Therefore God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestinating us to the adoption of children, not because we were going to be of ourselves holy and immaculate, but He chose and predestinated us that we might be so. Moreover, He did this according to the good pleasure of His will, so that nobody might glory concerning his own will, but about God’s will towards himself. He did this according to the riches of His grace, according to His good-will, which He purposed in His beloved Son; in whom we have obtained a share, being predestinated according to the purpose, not ours, but His, who worketh all things to such an extent as that He worketh in us to will also. Moreover, He worketh according to the counsel of His will, that we may be to the praise of His glory.119    Phil. ii. 13. For this reason it is that we cry that no one should glory in man, and, thus, not in himself; but whoever glorieth let him glory in the Lord, that he may be for the praise of His glory. Because He Himself worketh according to His purpose that we may be to the praise of His glory, and, of course, holy and immaculate, for which purpose He called us, predestinating us before the foundation of the world. Out of this, His purpose, is that special calling of the elect for whom He co-worketh with all things for good, because they are called according to His purpose, and “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”120    Rom. xi. 29.

37. Nimis longum est de singulis disputare. Cernitis autem procul dubio, cernitis quanta manifestatione apostolici eloquii defendatur haec gratia, contra quam merita extolluntur humana, tanquam homo aliquid prior det, ut retribuatur ei. Elegit ergo nos Deus in Christo ante mundi constitutionem, praedestinans nos in adoptionem filiorum: non quia per nos sancti et 0988 immaculati futuri eramus, sed elegit praedestinavitque ut essemus. Fecit autem hoc secundum placitum voluntatis suae, ut nemo de sua, sed de illius erga se voluntate glorietur: fecit hoc secundum divitias gratiae saue, secundum bonam voluntatem suam, quam proposuit in dilecto Filio suo, in quo sortem consecuti sumus, praedestinati secundum propositum, non nostrum, sed ejus, qui universa operatur, usque adeo ut ipse in nobis operetur et velle (Philipp. II, 13). Operatur autem secundum consilium voluntatis suae, ut simus in laudem gloriae ejus. Hinc est quod clamamus, ut nemo glorietur in homine (I Cor. III, 21), ac per hoc nec in se ipso; sed qui gloriatur, in Domino glorietur (Id. I, 31), ut simus in laudem gloriae ejus. Ipse quippe operatur secundum propositum suum, ut simus in laudem gloriae ejus, utique sancti et immaculati, propter quod nos vocavit, praedestinans ante mundi constitutionem. Ex hoc proposito ejus est illa electorum propria vocatio, quibus omnia cooperatur in bonum: quia secundum propositum vocati sunt (Rom. VIII, 28), et sine poenitentia sunt dona et vocatio Dei.