Augustine answered, “All men in Adam are in ruin. God saves some of them. If he let all die, we could not blame him: how much less for saving some!”
But why does he not save all? The answer is,—
Because the elect see in the fate of the non-elect what they have escaped, and God's justice is revealed with his goodness.
None of the elect perish, though they may die unbaptized, and be ever so bad in their lives; but they will be all converted before they die.
The non-elect may be often better men than the elect; but they will not be saved.
The only place where Augustine allows freedom is in Adam, who might have turned either way.
Semi-Pelagianism consists essentially in saying, “Man begins the work; God aids him.”
Augustine's view was carried out afterwards thus: “If God does all, it is no use to preach, exhort, or read Scripture, or use any means of grace.”
Augustine had said that reprobation was not a decree to sin, but to punishment.
But Gottschalk, his follower, said it was a decree to sin. The Church rejected this statement, and softened the doctrine. Thomas Aquinas revived it again.