Chapter 4 Section 19.

- Marcus Eremita

The
CAUSE OF GOD AND TRUTH.
Part 4
Chapter 4—Of Efficacious Grace

Section 19—Marcus Eremita. A.D. 390.

Mark the Eremite ascribes every good thing to God as the author of it; he denies that he can be prevented by any
good works of men, or that his grace is given in proportion to them; but affirms, that salvation is entirely of grace. First
of all, says he,[1] we certainly know, that God is the author, both beginning, middle, and end, of all good. Moreover, it
is impossible that we should do any good thing, or believe but by Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Again,[2] The
author and beginning of all virtue is God, as the sun is of daily light; as often as ye do any virtuous action, remember
him who said without me ye can do nothing. In another place he affirms,[3] that a man’s own work does not save him,
but he who gives the power of working, therefore never think, that praevenisse Dominum in virtute, thou hast
prevented the Lord by thy virtue, according to his judgment who says, it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of his good pleasure. And elsewhere he observes,[4] that what is given by grace we ought not now to measure,
according to the manner and merit of preceding weakness, since then grace would not be grace but believing in God
Almighty, let us come to him with a heart single, and void of care, who through faith bestows the communications of
the Spirit, non ex proportione operum nature, not in proportion to the works of nature; for, he says, ye have not
received the Spirit by the works of the law, but by the hearing of faith. And it is a conclusion of this writers,[5] that
the salvation of them that are saved arises from grace, not from nature; wherefore he advises,[6] not to seek the
perfection of the law in human virtues, for no man is found perfect in them, seeing the perfection of the law is hid in
the cross of Christ.

ENDNOTES:

[1] Marc. Eremit. de Leg. Spirit. p. 51.

[2] Ibid. p. 53.

[3] Ibid. p. 50.

[4] Ibid. p. 49.

[5] Marc. Erermit. capitula de Temperantia, p. 104.

[6] Ibid. de Leg. Spirit. p. 52.

http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/Cause_of_God_and_Truth/Part%204/chapter4/chap04_section19.htm[11/2/2010 10:43:17 AM]