b) Augustinianism is unable to reconcile its theory of a praemotio moralis with the dogma of free-will.
Under the Augustinian system the influence of efficacious grace can be conceived in but two ways. Either it is so strong that the will is physically unable to withhold its consent; or it is only strong enough that the consent of the will can be inferred with purely moral certainty. In the former alternative we have a prevenient necessity which determines the will ad unum and consequently destroys its freedom. In the latter, there can be no infallible foreknowledge of the future free acts of rational creatures on the part of God, because the Augustinians reject the scientia media of the Molinists and expressly admit that the same grace which proves effective in one man remains ineffective in another because of the condition of his heart.[755]
c) Finally, the three fundamental principles of the Augustinian system are false and have no warrant in the writings of St. Augustine.
It is not true that pleasure (delectatio) is the font and well-spring of all supernaturally good deeds. Such deeds may also be inspired by hatred, fear, sorrow, etc.[756] With [pg 254] many men the fear of God or a sense of duty is as strong an incentive to do good as the sweet consciousness of treading the right path. St. Augustine did not regard “celestial delectation” as the essential mark of efficacious grace, nor concupiscence as the characteristic note of sin.[757]
The second and third principles of the Augustinian system are likewise false. If delectation is only one motive among many, its varying intensity cannot be the standard of our conduct; and still less can it be said that the will is morally compelled in each instance to obey the relatively stronger as against the weaker delectation; for any necessitation that does not depend on the free will excludes the libertas a coactione, but not that libertas a necessitate which constitutes the notion of liberty. There can be no freedom of the will unless the will is able to resist delectation at all times. Consequently, the fourth principle of the Augustinians, by which they pretend to uphold free-will, is also false.[758]
Readings:—The literature on the different systems of grace is enormous. We can mention only a few of the leading works.
On the Thomist side: *Bañez, O. P., Comment. in S. Theol. S. Thom., Salamanca 1584 sqq.—*Alvarez, O. P., De Auxiliis Gratiae et Humani Arbitrii Viribus, Rome 1610.—Idem, Responsionum Libri Quatuor, Louvain 1622.—Ledesma, O. P., De Divinae Gratiae Auxiliis, Salamanca 1611.—*Gonet, O. P., Clypeus Theologiae Thomisticae, 16 vols., Bordeaux 1659-69.—Contenson, O. P., Theologia Mentis et Cordis, Lyons 1673.—De Lemos, O. P., Panoplia Divinae Gratiae, 4 vols., Liège 1676.—Goudin, O. P., De Scientia et Voluntate Dei, new ed., Louvain 1874.—*Gotti, O. P., Theologia Scholastico-Dogmatica iuxta Mentem [pg 255] Divi Thomae, Venice 1750.—Gazzaniga, O. P., Theologia Dogmatica in Systema Redacta, 2 vols., Vienne 1776.—*Billuart, De Gratia, diss. 5 (ed. Lequette, t. III, pp. 123 sqq.).—Idem, Le Thomisme Triomphant, Paris 1725.—*Fr. G. Feldner, O. P., Die Lehre des hl. Thomas über die Willensfreiheit, Prague 1890.—Idem, in Commer's Jahrbuch für Philosophie und spekulative Theologie, 1894 sqq.—*Dummermuth, O. P., S. Thomas et Doctrina Praemotionis Physicae, Paris 1886.—I. A. Manser, Possibilitas Praemotionis Physicae Thomisticae, Fribourg (Switzerland) 1895.—Joh. Ude, Doctrina Capreoli de Influxu Dei in Actus Voluntatis Humanae, Graz 1905.—Del Prado, De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio, 3 vols., Fribourg (Switzerland) 1907.—P. Garrigou-Lagrange, S. Thomas et le Néomolinisme, Paris 1917.
On the Augustinian side: Card. Norisius, Vindiciae Augustinianae, Padua 1677.—*Berti, De Theologicis Disciplinis, 8 vols., Rome 1739 sqq.—Bellelli, Mens Augustini de Modo Reparationis Humanae Naturae, 2 vols., Rome 1773.—L. de Thomassin, Mémoires sur la Grâce, etc., Louvain 1668.
For a list of Molinistic and Congruistic authors see pp. [269] sq.