Chapter 46.—From the Epistle to the Ephesians.

To the Ephesians he addresses words of the same import: “And you when ye were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit of him that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; by whose grace ye are saved.”154    Eph. ii. 1–5. Again, a little afterwards, he says: “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”155    Eph. ii. 8–10. And again, after a short interval: “At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having in Himself slain the enmity; and He came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”156    Eph. ii. 12–18. Then in another passage he thus writes: “As the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”157    Eph. iv. 21–24. And again: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”158    Eph. iv. 30.

46. Ad Ephesios etiam: Et vos cum essetis mortui delictis et peccatis vestris, in quibus aliquando ambulastis secundum saeculum mundi hujus, secundum principem potestatis aeris, spiritus ejus qui nunc operatur in filiis diffidentiae, in quibus et nos omnes aliquando conversati sumus in desideriis carnis nostrae facientes voluntatem carnis, et affectionum, et eramus naturaliter filii irae, sicut et caeteri. Deus autem qui dives est in misericordia, propter multam dilectionem qua dilexit nos, et cum essemus mortui peccatis, convivificavit nos Christo, cujus gratia sumus salvi facti. Et paulo post: Gratia, inquit, salvi facti estis per fidem; et hoc non ex vobis, sed Dei donum est: non ex operibus, ne forte quis extollatur. Ipsius enim sumus figmentum, creati in Christo Jesu in operibus bonis, quae praeparavit Deus ut in illis ambulemus. Et paulo post: Qui eratis, inquit, illo tempore sine Christo, alienati a societate Israel, et peregrini testamentorum et promissionis, spem non habentes, et sine Deo in hoc mundo: nunc autem in Christo Jesu, qui aliquando eratis longe, facti estis prope in sanguine Christi. Ipse est enim pax nostra, qui fecit utraque unum, et medium parietem maceriae solvens inimicitias, in carne sua legem mandatorum decretis evacuans, ut duos conderet in se in unum novum hominem, faciens pacem, et commutaret utrosque in uno corpore Deo, per crucem interficiens inimicitias in semetipso. Et veniens evangelizavit pacem 0136 vobis qui eratis longe, et pacem his qui prope, quia per ipsum habemus accessum ambo in uno spiritu ad Patrem (Ephes. II, 1-18). Item alibi: Sicut veritas est in Jesu, deponere vos secundum priorem conversationem veterem hominem, eum qui corrumpitur secundum concupiscentias deceptionis. Renovamini autem spiritu mentis vestrae, et induite novum hominem, eum qui secundum Deum creatus est in justitia et sanctitate veritatis. Et alibi: Nolite contristare Spiritum sanctum Dei, in quo signati estis in diem redemptionis (Id. IV, 21-24, 30).