Francis Patrick Kenrick

We can rely on no purpose or effort of our own, but on Divine grace, for which we should earnestly pray. God moves us by His grace to will good, and He gives us strength to accomplish it : but our co-operation is necessary. St. Augustin remarks: "Not because the apostle saith, it is God that worketh in you both to will and work, must we think he taketh away our free will. For if it were so, then would he not a little before have willed them to work their own salvation with fear and trembling. For when they are commanded to work, their free will is called upon : but with trembling and fear is added, lest by attributing their well-working to themselves, they might be proud of their good deeds, as though they were of themselves." De gratia et lib. arb. c. ix. The good will iuS'oK.ia. may be the Divine good pleasure, by which God determines to bestow grace on the special objects of His favour; or the good disposition of the human will, under the influence of grace. No natural disposition, however excel- lent, can determine the Divine counsels in the distribution of grace. St. Chry- sostom explains it: "on account of His love, His pleasure, that the things pleasing to Him may be performed, that they may be according to His will."