Article XVIIIOf Free Will

1 p. 42 (Of the Freedom of the Will, they teach, that man’s will has some liberty for the attainment of civil righteousness, and for the choice of things subject to reason. 2 Nevertheless, 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]; 3 but this righteousness is wrought in the heart when the Holy Ghost is received through the Word.) 4 These things are said in as many words by Augustine in his Hypognosticon, book iii.: “ We grant that all men have a certain freedom of will in judging according to [natural] reason; not such freedom, however, whereby it is capable, without God, either to begin, or much less to complete aught in things pertaining to God, but only in works of this life, whether good or evil. ‘ Good,’ 5 I call those works which spring from the good in Nature, that is, to have a will to labor in the field, to eat and drink, to have a friend, to clothe oneself, to build a house, to marry, to keep cattle, to learn divers useful arts, or whatsoever good pertains to this life, 6 none of which things are without dependence on the providence of God; yea, of Him and through Him they are and have their beginning. ‘ Evil,’ I call such 7 p. 43 works as to have a will to worship an idol, to commit murder,” etc.

8 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 some sort to do the outward work (for it is able to keep the hands from theft and murder), yet it cannot work the inward motions, such as the fear of God, trust in God, chastity, patience, etc.