Of Free Will they teach that man's will has some liberty to
choose civil righteousness, and to work things subject to
reason. But it has no power, without the Holy Ghost, to work
the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness;
since the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God, 1 Cor. 2,14; but this righteousness is wrought in the
heart when the Holy Ghost is received through the Word. These
things are said in as many words by Augustine in his
Hypognosticon, Book III: We grant that all men have a free
will, free, inasmuch as it has the judgment of reason; not
that it is thereby capable, without God, either to begin, or,
at least, to complete aught in things pertaining to God, but
only in works of this life, whether good or evil. "Good" I
call those works which spring from the good in nature, such
as, willing to labor in the field, to eat and drink, to have a
friend, to clothe oneself, to build a house, to marry a wife,
to raise cattle, to learn divers useful arts, or whatsoever
good pertains to this life. For all of these things are not
without dependence on the providence of God; yea, of Him and
through Him they are and have their being. "Evil" I call such
works as willing to worship an idol, to commit murder, etc.

They condemn the Pelagians and others, who teach that without
the Holy Ghost, by the power of nature alone, we are able to
love God above all things; also to do the commandments of God
as touching "the substance of the act." For, although nature
is able in a manner to do the outward work, (for it is able to
keep the hands from theft and murder,) yet it cannot produce
the inward motions, such as the fear of God, trust in God,
chastity, patience, etc.