35. Ego, inquit, lux in saeculum veni, ut omnis qui crediderit in me, non maneat in tenebris
Chapter 8 [VII.]—(2) Whether There is in This World a Man Without Sin.
[2nd.] If, however, I am asked the second question which I have suggested,—whether there be a sinless man,—I believe there is not. For I rather believe the Scripture, which says: “Enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.”273 Ps. cxliii. 2. There is therefore need of the mercy of God, which “exceedingly rejoiceth against judgment,”274 Jas. ii. 13. and which that man shall not obtain who does not show mercy.275 Jas. ii. 13. And whereas the prophet says, “I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my heart,”276 Ps. xxxii. 5. he yet immediately adds, “For this shall every saint pray unto Thee in an acceptable time.”277 Ps. xxxii. 6. Not indeed every sinner, but “every saint;” for it is the voice of saints which says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”278 1 John i. 8. Accordingly we read, in the Apocalypse of the same Apostle, of “the hundred and forty and four thousand” saints, “which were not defiled with women; for they continued virgins: and in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault.”279 Rev. xiv. 3–5. “Without fault,” indeed, they no doubt are for this reason,—because they truly found fault with themselves; and for this reason, “in their mouth was discovered no guile,”—“because if they said they had no sin, they deceived themselves, and the truth was not in them.”280 1 John i. 8. Of course, where the truth was not, there would be guile; and when a righteous man begins a statement by accusing himself, he verily utters no falsehood.
CAPUT VII.
8. Secunda quaestio, an sit aliquis homo sine peccato in hac vita. Si autem quod secundo 0156 loco posueram, quaeratur utrum sit, esse non credo. Magis enim credo Scripturae dicenti, Ne intres in judicium cum servo tuo, quoniam non justificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens (Psal. CXLII, 2). Et ideo misericordia Dei opus est, quae superexaltat judicio, quae illi non erit qui non facit misericordiam (Jacobi II, 13). Et quod propheta cum diceret, Dixi, Pronuntiabo adversus me delictum meum Domino, et tu dimisisti impietatem cordis mei; continuo subjunxit, Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore opportuno (Psal. XXXI, 5, 6). Non ergo omnis peccator, sed omnis sanctus: vox enim sanctorum est, Si dixerimus quia peccatum non habemus, nos ipsos decipimus, et veritas in nobis non est (I Joan. I, 8). Unde in ejusdem apostoli Apocalypsi, illa centum quadraginta et quatuor millia sanctorum, qui se cum mulieribus non coinquinaverunt, virgines enim permanserunt; et non est inventum in ore eorum mendacium, quia irreprehensibiles sunt (Apoc. XIV, 4 et 5) ; profecto ideo irreprehensibiles sunt, quia se ipsos veraciter reprehenderunt: et ideo non est inventum in ore eorum mendacium, quia si dicerent se peccatum non habere, se ipsos deciperent, et veritas in eis non esset; et utique mendacium esset, ubi veritas non esset: quoniam justus cum in sermonis exordio accusator sui est (Prov. XVIII, 17), non utique mentitur.