The Nestorians and their Rituals/Volume 2/Chapter 14
CHAPTER XIV.
OF FREE-WILL.
"The condition of Man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God: wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a goodwill, and working with us, when we have that goodwill."—Article X.
§ 1. "If our creation is hateful, the fault is the Creator's; but if our free-will is evil, we alone are reprovable. If we have no freedom, why is our will accountable? If we have no freedom, the will is unjustly condemned; but if there be freedom, the will is justly made accountable. Accountability is the inseparable companion of freedom, and the law is bound up with the two. Freedom is accountable for this reason, because it has transgressed the limits fixed by the Lawgiver. What profit is it to the Creator, who is the Truth, to lie unto us by giving us the law without giving us freedom? [or free-will.] Let truth be set up, let it question and be questioned, whether our Creator gave us freedom or not. Accountability and responsibility are the offsprings of freedom, and searching out and inquiry, which is its sister, are the daughters of freedom." From the service appointed in the Khudhra for the sixth Sunday in Lent.
§ 2. "After God had created man a reasonable image, a wonderful temple, and a bond of the universe, in short, a small world existing in the great world, He took from him a rib and made therewith woman, and placed them in the delectable paradise of Eden which He had prepared for them, and commanded them that they might eat of all the trees in paradise, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they were not to eat. And He further decreed, that in the day they should eat thereof they should die the death. Now, hereby God declared the freedom of man's will; for, had they not been free to act, He would have wronged them in punishing their transgression of the command; whereas, if they were really free agents, He justly condemned them, inasmuch as with wicked intent, and in their own self-sufficiency, they trampled upon and despised the divine command, in order that they might become gods, and be released from obedience to their Creator." See Appendix B. Part II., c. 2.
§ 3. "Man was called an image of God. … Secondly on account of his free-will." Appendix B, Part II., c. 1.
REMARKS.
The above quotations clearly teach the free agency of man, i.e., that he is capable of considering and reflecting upon the objects which are presented to his mind, and of acting, in such cases as are possible, according to the determination of his will. The free agency here taught is evidently that without which actions cannot be morally good or bad, and without which agents cannot be responsible for their conduct. But that the corruption introduced into our nature by the fall of Adam has so weakened our mental powers, and has given such force to our passions, and such perverseness to our wills, that a man "cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own nature and good works, to faith and calling upon God," that this doctrine of our Article is held by the Nestorians the following extracts amply testify.
"I would repent of my sins, but I am restrained by the very burden of my sins; for every day there arises a fierce conflict of lusts against me, and if to-day I am overcome by one sin, the day after I am overcome by another, and this conflict is unceasing. From this condition none can save me but Thou, O Jesus, who aboundest in Thy compassion towards sinners. Therefore, in Thy mercy forgive me my transgressions, and save me as Thou art wont. O merciful Lord, turn me and have mercy upon me." From the service appointed in the Khudhra for the third Sunday of the Summer season.
"Without Thy help we are very weak indeed to keep Thy commandments, O Lord Jesus, who aidest those who perfect His will, keep those who worship Thee. From a collect in the Kdham oo d'Wathâr appointed to he read every week-day morning.
"O Lord, according to Thy mercy, pity the frailty of our dead species, destroyed and ruined through the malice of the Tempter, and having no strength left. If Thy word doth not loosen its power, the will of Thy people to love Thee will be lost altogether. With strong crying and tears we beseech Thee to save us from the hand of the Evil one, for our nature cannot overcome his wickedness, even as Thou Thyself hast taught us in Thy Gospel saying: 'Without Me ye can do no good thing.' Save us, therefore, from the Evil one, and destroy his dominion." From the service appointed in the Khudhra for the Wednesday of the Baootha d'Ninwâyé.
"Thou knowest perfectly the weakness of our frail nature which is inclined to evil, and doeth iniquity, and serveth sin, and unless Thy grace doth assist us to perfect Thy will we shall be unable throughout our life-time to accomplish it." From a collection of collects at the end of the Khudhra.