Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

³ The Law has fear, Grace hope. But what difference is there between the Law and Grace, since the Giver both of the Law and Grace is One? The Law alarms him who relies on himself, Grace assists him who trusts in God. The Law, I say, alarms; do not make light of this because it is brief; weigh it well, and it is considerable. Look well at what I have said, take what we minister, prove wherefrom we take it. The Law alarms him who relies on himself, Grace assists him who trusts in God.

What says the Law? Many things: and who can enumerate them? I bring forward one small and short precept from it which the Apostle has brought forward, a very small one; let us see who is sufficient for it. “You shall not lust.” What is this, Brethren? We have heard the Law; if there be no grace, you have heard your punishment. Why do you boast to me whosoever you are that hearing this dost rely upon yourself, why do you boast to me of innocence? Why do you flatter yourself thereupon?

You can say, “I have not plundered the goods of others;” I hear, I believe, perhaps I even see it, you do not plunder the goods of others. You have heard, “You shall not lust.” “I do not go in to another man's wife;” this again I hear, believe, see. You have heard, “You shall not lust.” Why do you inspect yourself all round without, and dost not inspect within? Look in, and you will see another law in your members. Look in, why do you pass over yourself? Descend into your own self.

You will “see another law in your members resisting the law of your mind, and bringing you into captivity in the law of sin which is in your members.” With good reason then is the sweetness of God hidden to you. The law placed in your members, resisting the law of your mind, brings you into captivity. Of that sweetness which to you is hidden, the holy Angels drink; you can not drink and taste that sweetness, captive as you are. “You had not known concupiscence, unless the Law had said, You shall not lust.”

You heard, feared, tried to fight, could not overcome. For “sin taking occasion by the commandment wrought death.” Surely ye recognise them, they are the Apostle's words. “Sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.” Why did you vaunt yourself in your pride? Lo, with your own arms has the enemy conquered you. Thou verily, looked for a commandment as a defence: and, lo, by the commandment the enemy has found an occasion of entering in. “For sin taking occasion by the commandment,” he says, “deceived me, and by it slew me.” What means what I said, “With your own arms has the enemy conquered you”?

Hear the same Apostle going on, and saying; “Wherefore the Law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Make answer now to the revilers of the Law: make answer on the Apostle's authority, “The commandment is holy, the Law holy, the commandment just and good. Was then that which is good, made death unto me? God forbid! But sin that it might appear sin, by that which is good wrought death in me.” Why is this but because on receiving the commandment you feared, not love?

You feared punishment, you did not love righteousness. Whoso fears punishment, wishes, if it were possible, to do what pleases him, and not to have what he fears. God forbids adultery, you have coveted another's wife, you do not go in unto her, you do not do so, opportunity is given you, you have time, a favourable place is open, witnesses are absent, yet you do not do it, wherefore? Because you fear the punishment. But no one will know it. Will not God know it? So it is clear, because God knows what you are about to do, you do it not; but here you fear the threatenings of God, not lovest His commandments.

Why do you not do it? Because if you do, you will be cast into hell fire. It is the fire you fear. O if you loved chastity, you would not do it, even though you might be altogether unpunished. If God were to say to you, “Lo, do it, I will not condemn you, I will not condemn you to hell fire, but I will withhold My Face from you.” If you did it not because of this threat, it would be from the love of God that you did not do it, not from the fear of judgment. But you would do it, perhaps I mean you would do so; for it is not my place to judge.

If you do it not on this principle because you abhor the contamination of adultery, because you love His precepts, that you may obtain His promises, and not because you fear His condemnation, it is the grace which makes saints that aids you; it is all of grace, ascribe it not to your own self, attribute it not to your own strength. Thou actest from delight in it, well; you act in charity, well; I assent, I agree. Charity works by you, when you act with your will. At once do you taste sweetness, if you hope in the Lord.