Who but a proud man can presume that he so lives that he has no need to say to God, "Forgive us our debts?" And such a man is not great, but swollen and puffed up with vanity, and is justly resisted by Him who abundantly gives grace to the humble. For this reason it is said, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." In this, then, consists the righteousness of a man: that he submit himself to God, his body to his soul, and his vices, even when they rebel, to his reason, which either defeats or at least resists them. Righteousness also involves begging from God grace to do one's duty, and the pardon of one's sins, and rendering to God thanks for all the blessings received.
But, in that final peace to which all our righteousness has reference, and for the sake of which it is maintained, our nature shall enjoy a sound immortality and incorruption, and shall have no more vices. We shall experience no resistance either from ourselves or from others, and it will not be necessary that reason should rule vices which no longer exist, but God shall rule the man, and the soul shall rule the body. This rule shall be with a sweetness and facility suitable to the felicity of a life which is done with bondage. And this condition shall be eternal, and we shall be assured of its eternity; and thus the peace of this blessedness and the blessedness of this peace shall be the supreme good.
St. Augustine. Book 19 City of God
Posted by Carlos J. Medina
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