Chapter 3.—God is Besought for It, Because It is His Gift.
But why is that perseverance asked for from God if it is not given by God? Is that, too, a mocking petition, when that is asked from Him which it is known that He does not give, but, though He gives it not, is in man’s power; just as that giving of thanks is a mockery, if thanks are given to God for that which He did not give nor do? But what I have said there,6 On the Predestination of the Saints, above, ch. 39. I say also here again: “Be not deceived,” says the apostle, “God is not mocked.”7 Gal. vi. 6. O man, God is a witness not only of your words, but also of your thoughts. If you ask anything in truth and faith of one who is so rich, believe that you receive from Him from whom you ask, what you ask. Abstain from honouring Him with your lips and extolling yourself over Him in your heart, by believing that you have from yourself what you are pretending to beseech from Him. Is not this perseverance, perchance, asked for from Him? He who says this is not to be rebuked by any arguments, but must be overwhelmed8 Some editions read “recalled.” with the prayers of the saints. Is there any of these who does not ask for himself from God that he may persevere in Him, when in that very prayer which is called the Lord’s—because the Lord taught it—when it is prayed by the saints, scarcely anything else is understood to be prayed for but perseverance?
3. Cur autem perseverantia ista poscitur a Deo, si non datur a Deo? An et ista irrisoria petitio est, cum id ab eo petitur quod scitur non ipsum dare, sed ipso non dante esse in hominis potestate; sicut irrisoria est etiam illa actio gratiarum, si ex hoc gratiae aguntur Deo, quod non donavit ipse, nec fecit? Sed quod ibi dixi (In libro superiore, n. 39), hoc et hic dico. Nolite errare, inquit Apostolus; Deus non irridetur (Galat. VI, 7). O homo, non verborum tuorum tantum, verum etiam cogitationum testis est Deus: si aliquid a tanto divite veraciter ac fideliter poscis; ab illo, a quo poscis, te accipere crede quod poscis. Noli eum labiis honorare, et super eum corde te extollere, credens a te ipso tibi esse, quod ab illo te fingis orare. An ab illo perseverantia ista forte non poscitur? Jam hoc qui dicit, non meis disputationibus refellendus, sed sanctorum orationibus onerandus est . An vero quisquam eorum est, qui non sibi poscat a Deo ut perseveret in eo; cum ipsa oratione quae Dominica nuncupatur, quia eam Dominus docuit, quando oratur a sanctis, nihil pene aliud quam perseverantia posci intelligatur?