35. Ego, inquit, lux in saeculum veni, ut omnis qui crediderit in me, non maneat in tenebris
Chapter 32.—God’s Sovereignity in His Grace.
As to the reason why He wills to convert some, and to punish others for turning away,—although nobody can justly censure the merciful One in conferring His blessing, nor can any man justly find fault with the truthful One in awarding His punishment (as no one could justly blame Him, in the parable of the labourers, for assigning to some their stipulated hire, and to others unstipulated largess373 Matt. xx. 1–16.), yet, after all, the purpose of His more hidden judgment is in His own power.
0170 32. Quare autem illos velit convertere, illos pro aversione punire: quanquam et in beneficio tribuendo nemo juste reprehendat misericordem, et in vindicta exercenda, nemo juste reprehendat veracem; sicut in illis evangelicis operariis, aliis placitam mercedem reddentem, aliis etiam non placitam largientem (Matth. XX, 9, 10), nullus juste culpaverit: consilium tamen occultioris justitiae penes ipsum est.