Chapter 40.—No One is Certain and Secure of His Own Predestination and Salvation.

But, moreover, that such things as these are so spoken to saints who will persevere, as if it were reckoned uncertain whether they will persevere, is a reason that they ought not otherwise to hear these things, since it is well for them “not to be high-minded, but to fear.”143    Rom. xi. 20. For who of the multitude of believers can presume, so long as he is living in this mortal state, that he is in the number of the predestinated? Because it is necessary that in this condition that should be kept hidden; since here we have to beware so much of pride, that even so great an apostle was buffetted by a messenger of Satan, lest he should be lifted up.144    2 Cor. xii. 7. Hence it was said to the apostles, “If ye abide in me;”145    John xv. 7. and this He said who knew for a certainty that they would abide; and through the prophet, “If ye shall be willing, and will hear me,”146    Isa. i. 19. although He knew in whom He would work to will also. And many similar things are said. For on account of the usefulness of this secrecy, lest, perchance, any one should be lifted up, but that all, even although they are running well, should fear, in that it is not known who may attain,—on account of the usefulness of this secrecy, it must be believed that some of the children of perdition, who have not received the gift of perseverance to the end, begin to live in the faith which worketh by love, and live for some time faithfully and righteously, and afterwards fall away, and are not taken away from this life before this happens to them. If this had happened to none of these, men would have that very wholesome fear, by which the sin of presumption is kept down, only so long as until they should attain to the grace of Christ by which to live piously, and afterwards would for time to come be secure that they would never fall away from Him. And such presumption in this condition of trials is not fitting, where there is so great weakness, that security may engender pride. Finally, this also shall be the case; but it shall be at that time, in men also as it already is in the angels, when there cannot be any pride. Therefore the number of the saints, by God’s grace predestinated to God’s kingdom, with the gift of perseverance to the end bestowed on them, shall be guided thither in its completeness, and there shall be at length without end preserved in its fullest completeness, most blessed, the mercy of their Saviour still cleaving to them, whether in their conversion, in their conflict, or in their crown!

40. Quod autem etiam perseveraturis sanctis sic ista dicuntur, quasi eos perseveraturos habeatur incertum: non aliter haec audire debent, quibus expedit non altum sapere, sed timere (Rom. XI, 20). Quis enim ex multitudine fidelium, quamdiu in hac mortalitate vivitur, in numero praedestinatorum se esse praesumat? Quia id occultari opus est in hoc loco, ubi 0941 sic cavenda est elatio, ut etiam per satanae angelum, ne extolleretur, tantus colaphizaretur apostolus (II Cor. XII, 7). Hinc Apostolis dicebatur, Si manseritis in me (Joan. XV, 7): dicente illo qui eos utique sciebat esse mansuros. Et per prophetam, Si volueritis et audieritis me (Isai. I, 19): cum sciret ipse in quibus operaretur et velle (Philipp. II, 13). Et similia multa dicuntur. Nam propter hujus utilitatem secreti, ne forte quis extollatur, sed omnes etiam qui bene currunt timeant, dum occultum est qui perveniant: propter hujus ergo utilitatem secreti credendum est quosdam de filiis perditionis, non accepto dono perseverandi usque in finem, in fide quae per dilectionem operatur incipere vivere, et aliquandiu fideliter ac juste vivere, et postea cadere, neque de hac vita priusquam hoc eis contingat auferri. Quorum si nemini contigisset, tamdiu haberent homines istum saluberrimum timorem, quo vitium elationis opprimitur, donec ad Christi gratiam qua pie vivitur pervenirent, deinceps jam securi nunquam se ab illo esse casuros. Quae praesumptio in isto tentationum loco non expedit, ubi tanta est infirmitas, ut superbiam possit generare securitas. Denique etiam hoc erit; sed tunc, quod jam est in angelis, etiam in hominibus erit, quando ulla superbia esse non poterit. Numerus ergo sanctorum per Dei gratiam Dei regno praedestinatus, donata sibi etiam usque in finem perseverantia, illuc integer perducetur, et illic integerrimus jam sine fine beatissimus servabitur, adhaerente sibi misericordia Salvatoris sui, sive cum convertuntur, sive cum praeliantur, sive cum coronantur.