[XVII.] Among these benefits there remains perseverance unto the end, which is daily asked for in vain from the Lord, if the Lord by His grace does not effect it in him whose prayers He hears. See now how foreign it is from the truth to deny that perseverance even to the end of this life is the gift of God; since He Himself puts an end to this life when He wills, and if He puts an end before a fall that is threatening, He makes the man to persevere even unto the end. But more marvellous and more manifest to believers is the largess of God’s goodness, that this grace is given even to infants, although there is no obedience at that age to which it may be given. To whomsoever, therefore, God gives His gifts, beyond a doubt He has foreknown that He will bestow them on them, and in His foreknowledge He has prepared them for them. Therefore, those whom He predestinated, them He also called with that calling which I am not reluctant often to make mention of, of which it is said, “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”104    Rom. xi. 29. For the ordering of His future works in His foreknowledge, which cannot be deceived and changed, is absolute, and is nothing but, predestination. But, as he whom God has foreknown to be chaste, although he may regard it as uncertain, so acts as to be chaste, so he whom He has predestinated to be chaste, although he may regard that as uncertain, does not, therefore, fail to act so as to be chaste because he hears that he is to be what he will be by the gift of God. Nay, rather, his love rejoices, and he is not puffed up as if he had not received it. Not only, therefore, is he not hindered from this work by the preaching of predestination, but he is even assisted to it, so that although he glories he may glory in the Lord.

CAPUT XVII.

Restat in his bonis usque in finem perseverantia, quae frustra quotidie a Domino poscitur, si non eam Dominus per gratiam suam in illo, cujus orationes exaudit, operatur. Videte jam a veritate quam sit alienum, negare donum Dei esse perseverantiam usque in finem hujus vitae: cum vitae huic, quando voluerit, ipse det finem; quem si dat ante imminentem lapsum, facit hominem perseverare usque in finem. Sed mirabilior et fidelibus evidentior largitas bonitatis Dei est, quod etiam parvulis, quibus obedientia non est illius aetatis ut detur, datur haec gratia. Ista igitur sua dona quibuscumque Deus donat, procul dubio se donaturum esse praescivit, et in sua praescientia praeparavit. Quos ergo praedestinavit, 1019 ipsos et vocavit (Rom. VIII, 30) vocatione illa, quam me saepe commemorare non piget, de qua dictum est, Sine poenitentia sunt dona et vocatio Dei (Id. XI, 29). Namque in sua quae falli mutarique non potest praescientia, opera sua futura disponere, id omnino, nec aliud quidquam est praedestinare. Sicut autem ille quem castum futurum esse praescivit, quamvis id incertum habeat, agit ut castus sit: ita ille quem castum futurum praedestinavit, quamvis id incertum habeat, non ideo non agit ut castus sit, quoniam Dei dono se audit futurum esse quod erit ; imo etiam gaudet ejus charitas; nec inflatur (I Cor. XIII, 4), tanquam id non acceperit. Non solum ergo praedicatione praedestinationis ab hoc opere non impeditur, verum et ad hoc adjuvatur, ut cum gloriatur, in Domino glorietur (I Id. 31).