Now even Job himself is not silent respecting his own sins; and your friend, [1315] of course, is justly of opinion that humility must not by any means "be put on the side of falsehood." Whatever confession, therefore, Job makes, inasmuch as he is a true worshipper of God, he undoubtedly makes it in truth. [1316] Hilary, likewise, while expounding that passage of the psalm in which it is written, "Thou hast despised all those who turn aside from Thy commandments," [1317] says: "If God were to despise sinners, He would despise indeed all men, because no man is without sin; but it is those who turn away from Him, whom they call apostates, that He despises." You observe his statement: it is not to the effect that no man was without sin, as if he spoke of the past; but no man is without sin; and on this point, as I have already remarked, I have no contention with him. But if one refuses to submit to the Apostle John, -- who does not himself declare, "If we were to say we have had no sin," but "If we say we have no sin," [1318] -- how is he likely to show deference to Bishop Hilary? It is in defence of the grace of Christ that I lift up my voice, without which grace no man is justified, -- just as if natural free will were sufficient. Nay, He Himself lifts up His own voice in defence of the same. Let us submit to Him when He says: "Without me ye can do nothing." [1319]

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Footnotes:

[1315] Pelagius, the friend of Timasius and Jacobus.

[1316] Job 40:4, and xlii. 6.

[1317] Psalm 119:21, or 118.

[1318] 1 John 1:8.

[1319] John 15:5.