Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/Conferences of John Cassian, Part II/Conference XIII/Chapter 10

Chapter X.

On the weakness of free will.

Holy Scripture supports the freedom of the will where it says: &#8220;Keep thy heart with all diligence,&#8221; but the Apostle indicates its weakness by saying &#8220;The Lord keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.&#8221; David asserts the power of free will, where he says &#8220;I have inclined my heart to do Thy righteous acts,&#8221; but the same man in like manner teaches us its weakness, by praying and saying, &#8220;Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies and not to covetousness:&#8221; Solomon also: &#8220;The Lord incline our hearts unto Himself that we may walk in all His ways and keep His commandments, and ordinances and judgments.&#8221; The Psalmist denotes the power of our will, where he says: &#8220;Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile,&#8221; our prayer testifies to its weakness, when we say: &#8220;O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips.&#8221; The importance of our will is maintained by the Lord, when we find &#8220;Break the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion:&#8221; of its weakness the prophet sings, when he says: &#8220;The Lord looseth them that are bound:&#8221; &#160;and &#8220;Thou hast broken my chains: To Thee will I offer the sacrifice of praise.&#8221; We hear in the gospel the Lord summoning us to come speedily to Him by our free will: &#8220;Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you,&#8221; but the same Lord testifies to its weakness, by saying: &#8220;No man can come unto Me except the Father which sent Me draw him.&#8221; The Apostle indicates our free will by saying: &#8220;So run that ye may obtain:&#8221; but to its weakness John Baptist bears witness where he says: &#8220;No man can receive anything of himself, except it be given him from above.&#8221; We are commanded to keep our souls with all care, when the Prophet says: &#8220;Keep your souls,&#8221; but by the same spirit another Prophet proclaims: &#8220;Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.&#8221; The Apostle writing to the Philippians, to show that their will is free, says &#8220;Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,&#8221; but to point out its weakness, he adds: &#8220;For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.&#8221;