Introduction to the Philosophy of Saint Augustine
15. To sum up generally and briefly the view which, so far as relates to holy living, I entertain concerning virtue—virtue is the love with which that which ought to be loved is loved. This is in some greater, in others less, and there are men in whom it does not exist at all; but in the absolute fulness which admits of no increase, it exists in no man while living on this earth; so long, however, as it admits of being increased there can be no doubt that, in so far as it is less than it ought to be, the shortcoming proceeds from vice. Because of this vice '"'there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not"; (Eccles. 7:20) ... He, then, who sees aright, sees whence and when and where he must hope for that perfection to which nothing can be added. Moreover, if there had been no commandments, there would have been no means whereby a man might certainly examine himself and see from what things he ought to turn aside, whither he should aspire, and in what things he should find occasion for thanksgiving or for prayer. Great, therefore, is the benefit of commandments, if to free will so much liberty be granted that the grace of God may be more abundantly honored.
CHAPTER 5:16. If these things be so, how shall a man who shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, be guilty of all? May it not be, that since the fulfilling of the law is that love wherewith we love God and our neighbor, on which commandments of love "hang all the law and the prophets," (Matt. 22:40) he is justly held to be guilty of all who violates that on which all hang? Now, no one sins without violating this love; "for this, thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt do no murder; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Rom. 13:9-10) No one, however, loves his neighbor who does not out of his love to God do all in his power to bring his neighbor also, whom he loves as himself, to love God, whom if he does not love, he neither loves himself nor his neighbor. Hence it is true that if a man shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he becomes guilty of all, because he does what is contrary to that love on which hangs the whole law. A man, therefore, becomes guilty of all by doing what is contrary to that on which all hang.
17. Why, then, may not all sins be said to be equal? May not the reason be that the transgression of the law of love is greater