Chapter 13 [XII.]—The Scope and Purpose of the Law’s Threatenings; “Perfect Wayfarers.”
But before I proceed further, see what he has said. When treating the question about the difference of sins, and starting as an objection to himself, what certain persons allege, “that some sins are light by their very frequency, their constant irruption making it impossible that they should be all of them avoided;” he thereupon denied that it was “proper that they should be censured even as light offences, if they cannot possibly be wholly avoided.” He of course does not notice the Scriptures of the New Testament, wherein we learn29 We have read discimus, not dicimus. that the intention of the law in its censure is this, that, by reason of the transgressions which men commit, they may flee for refuge to the grace of the Lord, who has pity upon them—“the schoolmaster”30 Gal. iii. 24. “shutting them up unto the same faith which should afterwards be revealed;”31 Gal. iii. 23. that by it their transgressions may be forgiven, and then not again be committed, by God’s assisting grace. The road indeed belongs to all who are progressing in it; although it is they who make a good advance that are called “perfect travellers.” That, however, is the height of perfection which admits of no addition, when the goal to which men tend has begun to be possessed.
CAPUT XII.
13. Scopus minarum legis. Perfecti viatores. Quo priusquam veniam, videte quid dixerit. Cum tractaret quaestionem de differentia peccatorum, et objiceret sibi, quod quidam dicunt, «levia quaedam peccata ipsa multitudine, quod saepe irruant, non posse cuncta vitari;» negavit «debere argui ne levi quidem correptione, si vitari omnino non possunt:» scripturas utique non advertens Novi Testamenti, ubi dicimus hanc esse intentionem legis arguentis, ut propter illa quae perperam fiunt, confugiatur ad gratiam Domini miserantis; velut paedagogo concludente in eadem fide , quae postea revelata est; ubi et remittantur quae male fiunt, et eadem gratia juvante non fiant. Proficientium est enim via: quamvis bene proficientes dicantur perfecti viatores. Illa est autem summa perfectio cui nihil addatur, cum id quo tenditur, coeperit possideri.