Likewise he saith: For it is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed, even of his own good will. And although the faithful do all that they do with a free spirit, and willing mind, yet nevertheless this their freedom and willingness is let and hindered very much through the defects and infirmities of the flesh, which always remaineth with us, even unto death. Wherefore Paul greatly complaineth, saying: The flesh rebelleth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, so that the things which I would not do, that do I. Touching this matter read more Roma. 7. And yet in this case do we not attribute unto man any more free will than that which the free mercy of God worketh, by whose holy spirit he is freely governed & preserved. But as touching the infirmity which dwelleth in us, the operation and working of the spirit is ⟨image 56⟩hindered and let thereby, so that mans free will can do nothing that is good, and so that good which it is willing to do and doth, is of the free grace and holy spirit of god. And therefore Paul attributeth not his good works to his own free will, but to the grace of God, saying: By the grace of God, I am that I am: and his grace was not in me in vain, but I laboured more than they all, and yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1. Corinth. 15. Mark well that he saith, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. But touching evil (like as we have said already) we do it not by compulsion or against our will, but willingly, and that by reason of the corruption which is grafted in our nature. And yet when we run headlong to the Devil, God can let and stop us, and give us an other manner of mind, whereby we may be stirred and driven, (as it were) to the things wherein before we had no delight.
Likewise he sayth: For it is God that woorketh in you bothe the will and the deede, euen of hys owne good will. And although the faythfull doo all that they doo with a frée spirite, and willing minde, yet neuerthelesse this their fréedome and willingnesse is let and hindered very much through the defectes and infirmities of the flesh, whiche alwayes remayneth with vs, euen vnto deathe. Wherefore Paule greatly complayneth, saying: The flesh rebelleth agaynst the spirit, and the spirite agaynst the flesh, so that the things which I would not do, that do I. Touching this matter read more Roma. 7. And yet in this case doo we not attribute vnto man any more frée will than that which the frée mercy of God worketh, by whose holy spirite he is fréely gouerned & preserued. But as touching the infirmity which dwelleth in vs, the operation and working of the spirite is ⟨image 56⟩hindred and let thereby, so that mans free will can doo nothing that is good, and so that good which it is willing to doo and dothe, is of the frée grace and holy spirite of god. And therfore Paule attributeth not his good workes to hys owne free wil, but to the grace of God, saying: By the grace of God, I am that I am: and hys grace was not in me in vayne, but I labored more than they all, and yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1. Corinth. 15. Marke well that he sayth, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. But touching euill (lyke as wée haue sayde already) wée doo it not by compulsion or agaynst our will, but willingly, and that by reason of the corruption which is grafted in our nature. And yet when wee runne headlong to the Deuill, God can lette and stoppe vs, and giue vs an other manner of mynde, whereby wée may bée stirred and dr•uen, (as it were) to the things wherein before we had no delight.
