Orthodox Study
Various Church Fathers

It Was a Matter of Justice that All Should Be Condemned.

A Treatise on Nature and Grace. — translated by ANF/NPNF editors

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Chapter 5 [V.]—It Was a Matter of Justice that All Should Be Condemned.

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The entire mass, therefore, incurs penalty and if the deserved punishment of condemnation were rendered to all, it would without doubt be righteously rendered. They, therefore, who are delivered therefrom by grace are called, not vessels of their own merits, but “vessels of mercy.” But of whose mercy, if not His who sent Christ Jesus into the world to save sinners, whom He foreknew, and foreordained, and called, and justified, and glorified? Now, who could be so madly insane as to fail to give ineffable thanks to the Mercy which liberates whom it would? The man who correctly appreciated the whole subject could not possibly blame the justice of God in wholly condemning all men whatsoever.

Translated by ANF/NPNF editors. Edition ccel.npnf105.division.xii.en.

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