A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter 2
2 The Examples Apposite PL 44, 201
Here, perhaps, you will say to me in answer, that the things which I have instanced as not having been realized, although capable of realization, are divine works; whereas a man’s being without sin falls in the range of a man’s own work,—that being indeed his very noblest work which effects a full and perfect righteousness complete in every part; and therefore that it is incredible that no man has ever existed, or is existing, or will exist in this life, who has achieved such a work, if the achievement is possible for a human being. But then you ought to reflect that, although this great work, no doubt, belongs to human agency to accomplish, yet it is also a divine gift, and therefore, not doubt that it is a divine work; “for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
Error eorum qui dicunt vivere hic hominem sine peccato, minus perniciosus. Error negantium gratiam necessariam gravior et acerrime confutandus. Hic fortasse respondeas, ista quae commemoravi facta non esse et fieri potuisse, opera esse divina; ut autem sit homo sine peccato, ad opus ipsius hominis pertinere, idque opus esse optimum, quo fiat plena et perfecta et ex omni prorsus parte absoluta justitia: et ideo non esse credendum, neminem vel fuisse, vel esse, vel fore in hac vita qui hoc opus impleverit, si ab homine impleri potest. Sed cogitare debes, quamvis ad hominem id agere pertineat, hoc quoque munus esse divinum, atque ideo non dubitare opus esse divinum. Deus est enim qui operatur in vobis, ait Apostolus, et velle et operari, pro bona voluntate .