Augustine: Earlier Writings
inherited sin and the penahy of mortality, though God formed and created what was good. In all there is form and the fitting together of the body in such concord of the members that the apostle can use it as an illustration of how charity is obtained. In all the spirit of life vivifies the earthly members, and man's whole nature is wonderfully attuned as the soul rules and the body obeys. But carnal concupiscence now reigns as a result of the penalty of sin, and has thrown the whole human race into confusion, making of it one lump in which the original guilt remains throughout. And yet he goes on: "Some of them he blessed and exalted. Some he sanctified and brought nigh to himself. Some he cursed and brought low, and turned them to their dissensions." He continues in words like those of the apostle: "Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?" He has the same similitude: "As the clay is in the potter's hand to form and to fashion it, and all his ways are according to his good pleasure, so is man in the hand of him that made him." The apostle says: "Surely there is no unrighteousness with God?" Sirach adds: "He will render unto him according to his judgment." Just punishments are allotted to the damned. But even this is put to a good use, for those learn from it who have obtained mercy, as he says: "Good is set over against evil, and life over against death, so is the sinner over against the godly. So look upon all the works of the most High; two and two, one against the other." The better stand out and learn from comparison with the worse. Now these better are made better by grace. He hardly says that a remnant shall be saved, but he goes on to speak as one of the remnant. "I awaked up last, as one that gleaneth after the grape-gatherers." How does he prove that it was not for his own merits but by the mercy of God? "By the blessing of God I hoped, and filled my winepress as one that gathereth grapes." Though it awaked last, because, as it is said, the last shall be first, a people hoping in the blessing of God gleaned from the remnant of Israel and filled its winepress from the riches of the harvest which the whole earth produces.
21. The apostle, therefore, and all those who have been justified and have demonstrated for us the understanding of grace, have no other intention than to show that he that glories should glory in the Lord. Who will call in question the works of the Lord who out of one lump damns one and justifies another? Free will is most important. It exists, indeed, but of what