Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsPsalms 13

No not one.

S. Paul by this place, & the like (Isaie 59. v. 7.) confirmeth his doctrine (Rom. 3.) that both the Jews and the Gentiles (meaning all mankind) were in that state, that none, no not one without the grace of Christ ^[1], were just, nor could be justified, nor could be justified, nor saved by the law of Nature, nor of Moyses. Which proveth the necessity of faith. But neither that only faith justifieth, nor that the justest are still wicked, as Calvin and Beza falsely expound these Scriptures. For the Prophets and S. Paul speak in these places of men before they be justified, teaching that all mankind was once in sin, and none could be justified but by Christ ^[2]. Nevertheless they teach also that men being justified must and may serve justice unto sanctification. And that their works are not then unprofitable. For being made free from sin (saith the same Apostle to the Romans c. 6.) and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end is life everlasting Which point of doctrine, how man is justified ^[3], S. Augustine excellently, & briefly explicateth (li. 1. de Spiritu et lit. c. 9.) in these words: The just are justified freely by Christ his grace. They are not before purified by the law ^[4]: they are not justified by their proper will, but justified freely by (Christ) his grace. Not that it is done without our will, but by the law our will is shewed weak, that grace might cure the will, and the will being cured might fulfil the law, not being under the law, nor needing the law.

• 1 Without Christ's grace no man is nor can be just.
• 2 The law shewed the insufficiency of man's will.
• 3 Grace cureth the will.
• 4 The will being cured cooperateth with grace.

Whereto we may here add (and so save labour of repeating this in other places) another document of the same Doctor, in the same book (de Spirit. & lit. c. 27.) ^[1] that the just do not live without some sins, and yet remain in state of salvation: the wicked do sometimes certain good works ^[2], & still remain in state of damnation. For even as (saith he) venial sins, without it which this life is not led, do not exclude the just from eternal life: so certain good works, without which the life of the very worst is hardly found, profit nothing the unjust man to eternal salvation, but in everlasting damnation, some shall have more and some less torment.

• 1 Venial sins exclude not from heaven.
• 2 Good works done in mortal sins avail not to salvation.