Augustine of Hippo, on Zech 12:1

“The burden of the word of the Lord upon Israel. Thus saith the Lord, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundations of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man in him:”

“I do not want anyone to tell me that this view [that God condemns innocent souls] should be supported by the passage "who formed the spirit of man in him" and "who made the heart of every one of them." Something supremely strong and invincible is needed to force me to believe that God condemns any souls without any guilt of theirs. It is either as great a thing, or it is, perhaps greater, to create as to form, yet it is written, "Create a clean heart in me, O God." This is no argument for thinking that the soul in this passage prays to be made before it had any being. As, therefore, while now existing, it is created by renewal of its justice, so, while now existing, it is formed by the shaping force of doctrine.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.