Thank you Nick. I think Cassian also talked about grace not being necessary to persevere which the Lutheran Concord talks about, but I'll have to do some more reading on him. As I understand it though, Cassian's idea that the will was able to initiate justification (the middle way between Pelagius and Augustine) was renounced at the Council of Orange and the renunciation was reaffirmed at the Council of Trent, so, I'm kind of stuck in the same place I guess. But yeah, that makes sense. Here are the Trent texts:


Quote
CHAPTER V.
On the necessity, in adults, of preparation for Justification, and whence it proceeds.

The Synod furthermore declares, that in adults, the beginning of the said Justification is to be derived from the prevenient [Page 33] grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that is to say, from His vocation, whereby, without any merits existing on their parts, they are called; that so they, who by sins were alienated from God, may be disposed through His quickening and assisting grace, to convert themselves to their own justification, by freely assenting to and co-operating with that said grace: in such sort that, while God touches the heart of man by the illumination of the Holy Ghost, neither is man himself utterly without doing anything while he receives that inspiration, forasmuch as he is also able to reject it; yet is he not able, by his own free will, without the grace of God, to move himself unto justice in His sight.

and

Quote
CANON III.-If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema.


Last edited by Newman; Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:23 PM.