The Knot of Predestination Untied from Sacred Scripture and the Doctrine of Saints Augustine and Thomas, So Far as Is Permitted to a Human Being

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Original title: Nodus praedestinationis, ex sacris litteris doctrinaque SS. Augustini et Thomae, quantum homini licet, dissolutus A Latin theological treatise on predestination, grace and free will. It was printed at Rome by J. J. Komarek; Antwerp (Petrus Jouret) and 1697 printings are also recorded. Drawing on Scripture, Augustine and Aquinas, it seeks to reconcile God's election with his sincere will that all be saved and with human freedom. It distinguishes an antecedent, efficacious divine will (predestination) from a consequent will (reprobation, a response to foreseen obstinacy), and 'efficacious' from 'effective' grace. It argues that grace is abundant, offered to all and resistible, so that the damned fall through their own will. It opposes Báñezian physical predetermination and Jansenist readings of Augustine, and presents prayer as the means of obtaining victorious grace. Its arguments draw on analogies from Roman law, rhetoric, painting, music, natural philosophy and travel literature. Part I includes a historical catalogue of notorious sinners to whom grace was offered; this section breaks off unfinished because of the author's illness. The book then gives ascetic aphorisms. Part II (Pars altera, 'Triplici ictu solutus') argues that the inscrutability of predestination is no objection to Providence and leaves what remains to the secrets of God. Preliminaries include a Francis de Sales epigraph, the 'Votum morientis Auctoris', a Holy Office memorial of 25 July 1696, an editor's preface by Joannes Damascenus and approbations. An appended 'Corollarium Doctorum' lists authorities for predestination ex praevisis meritis. 👉 Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here 📜 View the original source file This text was transcribed and translated as part of the ExLatinis project—an effort by Leo to make English translations of every published text in Latin in early modern Europe (between 1450 and 1750) available to the public for free online.

• Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here
• View the original source file

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