Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsDeuteronomy 30

God will circumcise thy heart.

^◦ Most true it is, that of ourselves, without God's grace, none can keep or fulfill the commandments. But he, whose heart God doth circumcise, is thereby made able to love God with all his heart, and with all his soul. And except some hearts were thus circumcised, and so made able to love God above all, and consequently their neighbours, God should not perform his promise, that he will circumcise the heart of some.

• ◦ By grace men are made able to keep God's commandments.

Is not above thee.

^[1] When thou art stirred up, assisted, and endued with God's grace ^[2], the commandment of God is not (then) above thee, nor far off from thee, but very near thee, in thy mouth (to confess God, and his truth) and in thy heart, to do it. But you will ask: How then cometh it to pass, that many having received sufficient grace, yet do not keep God's commandments? God himself answereth:

• 1 So the commandments are not impossible
• 2 S. Aug. de nat. et grat. c. 69. et q. 54. in Deut. Theod. q. 38. in Deut. S. Cypr. l. 3. c. 52. ad Quir. S. Amb. in Psal. 40.

That he hath set before thee life and good, and contrarywise death and evil;

he inviteth and helpeth, yet forceth thee not: he giveth thee power & ability, helping and not destroying thy freewill ^◦, that thou mayst love our Lord thy God, walk in his ways, and keep his commandments. But if thy heart be averted and (v. 17.) thou wilt not hear, thou shalt perish. Again, God inculcateth:

• ◦ Free-will.

I call for witnesses heaven and earth`, that I have `proposed` to you life and death, blessing and cursing. `Choose` therefore life &c.`

What Doctor can teach more plainly the possibility of keeping God's commandments; and freewill in man, than this text of holy Scripture?