every one experiences in himself, and is so often asserted
in the Holy Scriptures." St. Paul says: "Having power over
his own will." 1 Cor. 7:37. Of the righteous the wise man
says: "Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil,
and hath not done it?" Eccles. 31:10. God said to Cain: "If
thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou
doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be
his desire, and thou shalt rule over him," Gen. 4:7. Through
the prophet Isaiah he says: "If ye be willing and obedient ye
shall eat the good of the land. But if ye refuse and rebel,
ye shll be devoured with the sword." This also Jeremiah has
briefly expressed: "Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil,
as thou couldest," Jer. 3:5. We add also Ezek. 18:31ff.:
"Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have
transgressed; and make ye a new heart, and a new spirit; for
why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in
the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore
turn yourselves and live." Also St. Paul: "The spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets," 1 Cor. 14:32. Likewise
2 Cor. 9:7: "Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart; not grudgingly or of necessity." finally, Christ
overthrew all the Manichaeans with one word when he said: "Ye
have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may
do them good." Mark 14:7; and to Jerusalem Christ says: "How
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Matt. 23:37.


To Article XIX.