John Cassian
Patristic
c. A.D. 360–435
“For God's purpose, according to which he did not make the human being to perish but to live forever, abides unchanging. When his kindness sees shining in us the slightest glimmer of good will, which he himself has in fact sparked from the hard flint of our heart, he fosters it, stirs it up and strengthens it with his inspiration, "desiring all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." For, he says, "it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." And again he says, "God does not wish a soul to perish, but he withdraws and reflects, lest one who has been cast down perish utterly."”