Augustine of Hippo, On Nature and Grace

But “the precepts of the law are very good,” if we use them lawfully.223 See 1 Tim. i. 8. Indeed, by the very fact (of which we have the firmest conviction) “that the just and good God could not possibly have enjoined impossibilities,” we are admonished both what to do in easy paths and what to ask for when they are difficult. Now all things are easy for love to effect, to which (and which alone) “Christ’s burden is light,”224 Matt. xi. 30.—or rather, it is itself alone the burden which is light. Accordingly it is said, “And His commandments are not grievous;”225 1 John v. 3. so that whoever finds them grievous must regard the inspired statement about their “not being grievous” as having been capable of only this meaning, that there may be a state of heart to which they are not burdensome, and he must pray for that disposition which he at present wants, so as to be able to fulfil all that is commanded him. And this is the purport of what is said to Israel in Deuteronomy, if understood in a godly, sacred, and spiritual sense, since the apostle, after quoting the passage, “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart”226 Deut. xxx. 14, quoted Rom. x. 8. (and, as the verse also has it, in thine hands,227 According to the Septuagint, which adds after ἐν τῇ καρδία σου the words καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου. This was probably Pelagius’ reading. Compare Quæstion. in Deuteron. Book v. 54. for in man’s heart are his spiritual hands), adds in explanation, “This is the word of faith which we preach.”228 Rom. x. 8. No man, therefore, who “returns to the Lord his God,” as he is there commanded, “with all his heart and with all his soul,”229 Deut. xxx. 2. will find God’s commandment “grievous.” How, indeed, can it be grievous, when it is the precept of love? Either, therefore, a man has not love, and then it is grievous; or he has love, and then it is not grievous. But he possesses love if he does what is there enjoined on Israel, by returning to the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul. “A new commandment,” says He, “do I give unto you, that ye love one another;”230 John xiii. 34. and “He that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law;”231 Rom. xiii. 8. and again, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”232 Rom. xiii. 10. In accordance with these sayings is that passage, “Had they trodden good paths, they would have found, indeed, the ways of righteousness easy.”233 Prov. ii. 20. How then is it written, “Because of the words of Thy lips, I have kept the paths of difficulty,”234 Ps. xvii. 4. except it be that both statements are true: These paths are paths of difficulty to fear; but to love they are easy?

CAPUT LXIX.

83. Nihil impossibile Deus praecipit, quia omnia facilia charitati. Valde autem bona sunt praecepta, si legitime his utamur (I Tim. I, 8). Eo quippe ipso quo firmissime creditur, Deum justum 0289 et bonum impossibilia non potuisse praecipere; hinc admonemur, et in facilibus quid agamus, et in difficilibus quid petamus. Omnia quippe fiunt facilia charitati: cui uni Christi sarcina levis est (Matth. XI, 30), aut ea una est sarcina ipsa quae levis est. Secundum hoc dictum est, Et praecepta ejus gravia non sunt (I Joan. V, 3): ut cui gravia sunt, consideret non potuisse divinitus dici, gravia non sunt, nisi quia potest esse cordis affectus cui gravia non sunt, et petat quo destituitur, ut impleat quod jubetur. Et quod dicitur ad Israel in Deuteronomio, si pie, si sancte, si spiritualiter intelligatur, hoc idem significat: quia utique cum hoc testimonium commemorasset Apostolus, Prope te est verbum in ore tuo, et in corde tuo (quod hic habet, in manibus tuis ; in corde enim sunt spirituales manus); hoc est, inquit, verbum fidei quod praedicamus (Deut. XXX, 14; Rom. X, 8). Conversus ergo quisque, sicut ibi praecipitur, ad Dominum Deum suum ex toto corde suo, et ex tota anima sua, mandatum Dei non habebit grave. Quomodo est enim grave, cum sit dilectionis mandatum? Aut enim quisque non diligit, et ideo grave est: aut diligit, et grave esse non potest. Diligit autem, si quod illic admonetur Israel, conversus fuerit ad Dominum Deum suum ex 0290 toto corde suo, et ex tota anima sua. Mandatum, inquit, novum do vobis, ut vos invicem diligatis (Joan. XIII, 34): et, Qui diligit proximum, legem implevit: et, Plenitudo legis, charitas (Rom. XIII, 8 et 10). Secundum hoc et illud dictum est, Si ambularent semitas bonas, invenis, sent utique semitas justitiae leves (Prov. II, 20, sec. LXX). Quomodo ergo dicitur, Propter verba labiorum tuorum ego custodivi vias duras (Psal. XVI, 4); nisi quia utrumque verum est? Durae sunt timori, leves amori.