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Appendix II
The Synod
of Orange
Excerpts
from The Synod of Orange
- The sin of
Adam has not injured the body only, but also the soul of man.
- The sin of
Adam has brought sin and death upon all mankind.
- Grace is
not merely bestowed when we pray for it, but grace itself causes
us to pray for it.
- Even the
beginning of faith, the disposition to believe, is effected by
grace.
- All good
thoughts and works are God's gift.
- Even the
regenerate and the saints need continually the divine help.
- What God
loves in us, is not our merit, but his own gift.
- The free
will weakened in Adam, can only be restored through the grace
of baptism.
- All good
that we possess is God's gift, and therefore no one should boast.
- Unmerited
grace precedes meritorious works.
- Even had
man not fallen, he would have needed divine grace for salvation.
- When man
sins, he does his own will; when he does good, he executes the
will of God, yet voluntarily.
- The love
of God is itself a gift of God.
In
opposition to Semi-Pelagianism it was stated:
- Through the
fall free will has been so weakened, that without prevenient grace
no one can love God, believe on Him, or do good for God's sake,
as he ought.
- Through the
grace of God all may, by the co-operation of God, perform what
is necessary for their soul's salvation.
- It is by
no means our faith, that any have been predestined by God to sin,
but rather: if there are people who believe so vile a thing, we
condemn them with utter abhorrence.
- In every
good work the beginning proceeds not from us, but God inspires
in us faith and love to Him without merit precedent on our part,
so that we desire baptism, and after baptism can, with His help,
fulfill His will.
- Because this
doctrine of the fathers and the synod is also salutary for the
laity, the distinguished men of the laity also, who have been
present at this solemn assembly, shall subscribe these acts.
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Appendix III
Views of the Imputation of Sin >>
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