Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/102

when it is at the same time affirmed that God created him free. To which we answer, that it cannot be asserted of man, that he is a slave only because he does not belong to himself; in which case he would always be a slave, inasmuch as he never belongs to himself in an independent and sovereign manner. But, it is affirmed of man, that he is enslaved only when he falls under the power of an usurper, as it is said that he is free when he obeys only his legitimate master. He only is enslaved who is ruled by a tyrant, and there is no greater tyrant than he who exercises an usurped authority; nor is there any other liberty than that which consists in a willing obedience to legitimate rulers.

Again, some persons cannot comprehend how the action of grace, through which we are redeemed and liberated, can be reconciled with this same liberty and redemption. It appears to them that in this mysterious operation God is the sole agent, and man is passive. This is an entirely erroneous opinion, because it is necessary that God and man concur in this great mystery—God working and man co-operating. For this reason God does not usually impart more grace than is needed to assist the will. Fearful of oppressing it, he is contented with inviting it, with the most loving request; while man, when he receives the impressions of grace, does so with incomparable sweetness and complacency; and when the loving will of man, who listens to this invitation, is joined to the loving will of God, who calling him rejoices, and rejoicing calls, then through this sweet concurrence of wills does the grace which was sufficient become efficacious.

With regard to those who imagine liberty to rest in the absence of all solicitation which may affect the will