Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsProverbs 16

It pertaineth to man to prepare the heart.

For the better understanding of this and other hard places of Holy Scripture, this general rule, ^[1] ever approved by all Christians, is most necessary, That all holy Scripture is true and certain, as being all indited by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth: and so one place is never contrary to another, though at first sight they may so seem to man's understanding. For by this place the Pelagians would prove, that man can of himself, without the help of God's grace, begin a good thing, though without this help he cannot perform it, because it is here said that it pertaineth to man to prepare the heart: that is, to begin a good thing. ^[2] But S. Augustine sheweth that it may not be so understood: because so it should be contrary to that saying of our Saviour: Without me you can do nothing; and that of S. Paul: We are not sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God. Which two evident places, with other like, do shew that this place hath another different sense, from that which the Pelagians gather. And so S. Augustine, and other Fathers teach, that the wiseman here affirmeth not, that man of himself can prepare his heart, or begin a good work, but that it pertaineth to man to prepare his heart, presupposing help of God's grace, ^[3] and having so begun, God also governeth the tongue, and by more grace directeth it to speak those things well, which the heart purposed, and disposed to be uttered; without which help none is able, neither to begin any meritorious work, nor to prosecute, nor perfect that is well begun. The like sentence followeth in the 9. verse: The heart of man disposeth his way: but it pertaineth to our Lord to direct his progress; signifying in both places, that after a thing is well begun (which cannot be without the help of God's grace) yet it cannot proceed well without more grace, still directing and strengthening man's freewill.

• 1 A general rule that one place of holy Scripture is not contrary to another.
• 2 li. 2. c. 8. con. duas Epistolas Palag. Ioan. 15. 2. Cor. 3.
• 3 God's grace is necessary both to begin and to prosecute any good work.