第十一节 神性全能之秩序与信仰之自由接受
500# 若人没有属灵事物中的自由意志，则普天下所有人都能在一日之内被引导去信主；然而此事不能成就，原因在于：凡不是由人出于自由意志而接受的，都不能存留。
若不给人属灵事物中的自由意志，上帝仍能在一日之内使普天下所有人都信祂——这一说法，似乎可从对神性全能的误解中推出为真。凡不明白神性全能者，或以为没有秩序，或以为上帝既能照秩序行事，也同样能违反秩序行事；然而事实上，若无秩序，创造根本无从有。秩序的首要原则，就是人应当成为上帝的形像；因此，人应当在爱与智慧中被成全，并如此愈来愈成为这形像。
上帝不断在人里面作成此事；但若没有属灵事物中的自由意志，使人能转向上帝，并与祂相互结合，则此工便是徒然的，因为这是不可能的。因为秩序乃是一切世界及其一切整体与个别事物被创造所本、所依的法则；既然一切创造都是由秩序并照秩序而成，所以上帝被称为“秩序本身”。因此，说上帝违反神性秩序行事，与说上帝违反祂自己行事，乃是一回事；甚至上帝自己也不能违反祂的神性秩序而行，因为这便是违反祂自己。所以，祂按照这秩序引导每一个人；使迷误者和偏离者归入这秩序，也使抵抗者趋向这秩序。
若人能够被造成在属灵事物上没有自由意志，那么，对于全能的上帝来说，还有什么比使普天下所有人都信主更容易呢？祂岂不能将这种信仰灌输入每一个人里面，无论是直接还是间接？直接地，凭祂绝对的权能，并凭祂那不可抗拒的运行——这运行不断以拯救人为目的；间接地，则可藉着将良心的痛苦投入人里面，藉着致命的身体痉挛，藉着若不接受便以死亡相威胁；并且还可以开启地狱，使手持可怖火炬的魔鬼临到人面前，或召唤他们所认识的死人，以可怕幽灵的形像显现。
然而，对这一切的回答，正在亚伯拉罕对地狱中那富人的话里：“若不听摩西和先知的话，就是有一个从死里复活的，他们也是不听劝。”（路16:31）
500# 如果神没有赋予人们在属灵事物上的自由意志或自由选择，那么祂能在一天之内引导全世界所有人都信祂；但这是一种假设，源于不理解神性全能的性质。那些不理解神性全能的人可能会认为，要么秩序不存在，要么神既可以违背秩序行事，也可以按照秩序行事。而事实上，没有秩序，创造是不可能的。秩序的主要目的是为了人成为神的形像；因此，他在爱和智慧上不断得到完善，因而越来越成为这种形像。为了达到这个目的，神不断在人里面作工或运作；但如果人没有在属灵事物上的自由意志或自由选择，通过它能转向神，并与神相互结合，那么这是徒劳的，因为这是不可能的。事实上，整个宇宙，以及它里面的每一个和一切事物，都是从秩序中并按照秩序被创造出来的；由于一切创造都是从秩序中并按照秩序实现的，所以神被称为秩序本身。因此，无论我们说违背秩序行事，还是说违背神行事，都是一样的。事实上，神自己不能违背自己的神性秩序行事，因为这将是违背祂自己行事。因此，祂按照秩序，即按照祂自己，引导所有人，把偏离正道的人和背道的人引入秩序，把不服从或抵抗的人引向秩序。
如果没有在属灵事物上的自由意志或自由选择，人也能被创造出来，那么对全能的神来说，还有什么比引导全世界所有人都信神更容易的呢？难道祂不能将这信仰直接和间接植入每个人？不能通过祂的绝对能力及其不可抗拒、持续不断的拯救人的努力或运作直接植入它，通过激起良心的痛苦，或若他拒不接受这信仰，就通过致命的身体抽搐和可怕的死亡威胁间接植入它，或更进一步，通过打开地狱、让手持可怕火把的魔鬼出现，或通过从地狱里召唤出他们所认识、现在看起来像可怕幽灵的死者来植入它？对此，亚伯拉罕对地狱里的财主说的话就是回答：
他们若不听摩西和先知，即使有一个从死里复活的，他们也是不信服。（路加福音16:31）
500. If We Did Lack Free Choice in Spiritual Matters, Then in a Single Day Everyone on the Whole Planet Could Be Induced to Believe in the Lord; but in Fact This Cannot Happen, Because What We Do Not Accept through Our Free Choice Does Not Stay with Us
If free choice in spiritual matters had not been granted to us, then in a single day God could induce everyone on the planet to believe in him; but this is only taken as true when divine omnipotence is not well understood. People who do not understand divine omnipotence are able to reckon either that no divine design exists, or that God can act just as easily against his design as with it. But in fact, without the divine design no creation would have been possible. The first element of the divine design is that we are an image of God, so that we can be perfected in love and wisdom and therefore become more and more of an image [of him]. God continually works toward this within us, but if we had no free choice in spiritual matters that would allow us to turn ourselves toward God and forge a partnership with him, his work would be pointless, because his goal would be impossible to achieve.
There is a design from which and according to which the whole world and each and everything in it was created. And because all creation was brought about from that design and according to it, therefore God is called the divine design itself. Therefore it is the same whether you say "to act against the divine design" or "to act against God. " God could not act against his own divine design, since that would in fact be acting against himself. Therefore he leads every human being in a manner in keeping with his being that design. The wandering and the fallen he leads into that design; the resistant he leads toward it.
[2] If it would have been possible to create the human race without endowing it with free choice in spiritual matters, what then would have been easier for the omnipotent God than to induce everyone on the whole planet to believe in the Lord? Could he not have installed this faith in everyone, either directly or indirectly? He could have done so directly through his own absolute power and his constant, irresistible efforts to save us; or he could have done it indirectly through inflicting torment upon our consciences and devastating convulsions upon our bodies, and threatening us with death if we did not accept. He could have achieved the same result by opening hell to us and surrounding us with devils holding terrifying torches in their hands, or by calling up from hell dead people we once knew who now look like horrible specters. But to these arguments comes a response in the words of Abraham to the rich man in hell: "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, they are not going to be persuaded even if someone were to rise from the dead" (Luke 16:31).
500. X. If people did not have free will in spiritual matters, everyone throughout the world could in the course of a single day have been brought to believe in the Lord. But this would be impossible, because what a person does not accept of his own free will does not last.
The idea that God without giving people free will in spiritual matters could bring everyone throughout the world in the course of a single day to believe in Himself, is a consequence of failing to understand God's omnipotence. Those who misunderstand God's omnipotence may think either that there is no such thing as order, or that God can act just as much against order as in accordance with it. Yet in fact without order no creation would have been possible.
The primary end of order is that man should be an image of God; consequently he should become more and more perfect in love and wisdom, and thus more and more an image of God. God is continually working to produce this result in man; but without free will in spiritual matters, which enables a person to turn towards God and link himself in turn with Him, it would be labour in vain, since it would be impossible. For it is order from which and according to which the whole world with every single thing in it was created. Because all creation derives from order and is in accordance with order, God is called order itself. It is therefore the same thing whether you speak of acting contrary to Divine order or acting contrary to God. In fact, God Himself cannot act contrary to His Divine order, if this is really acting contrary to Himself. He therefore guides every person in accordance with Himself as order, and those who have strayed and fallen away He guides to it, and those who resist towards it.
[2] If man could have been created without free will in spiritual matters, what would then have been easier for almighty God than to bring everyone throughout the world to believe in the Lord? Surely He could have implanted this faith in everyone, both directly and indirectly? Directly, through His absolute power and its irresistible working, which never ceases aiming at man's salvation; or indirectly, through causing him to feel the pangs of conscience, through convulsions of the body producing unconsciousness, and serious threats of death, if he fails to accept. In addition, by opening up hell and displaying devils with terrifying torches in their hands, or by summoning up from hell the dead whom they had known in the form of terrible spectres. The reply to these suggestions is given in Abraham's words to the rich man in hell:
If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead, Luke 16:31.
500. XI. IF MEN HAD NOT FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN SPIRITUAL THINGS, ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD MIGHT IN ONE DAY BE LED TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD; BUT THIS CANNOT BE DONE, BECAUSE THAT WHICH IS NOT RECEIVED BY MAN WITH FREEDOM OF CHOICE DOES NOT REMAIN.
That God could, in one day, if freedom of choice in spiritual things had not been given to man, lead all the inhabitants of the world to believe in Him, follows as a true conclusion from the Divine omnipotence when not rightly understood. Those who do not understand the Divine omnipotence, may suppose either that there is no such thing as order, or that God can act contrary to order as well as according to it; when yet, without order, no creation was possible. The primary thing of order is for man to be an image of God, consequently, that he be continually perfecting in love and wisdom, and thus becoming that image more and more. To this end God is working continually in man; but this would be in vain, for it would be impossible, if man were destitute of freedom of choice in spiritual things, whereby he could turn to God and reciprocally conjoin himself with God. For there is an order from which and according to which the whole universe, with each and all things in it, was created; and because all creation was effected from that order and according to it God is called order itself. Thus it is the same whether we say, acting contrary to order, or acting contrary to God. God Himself, even, cannot act contrary to His own Divine order, since this would be to act contrary to His very Self; and therefore He leads every man according to that order which is Himself, guiding the wandering and the fallen into it, and the resisting toward it. If man could have been created without freedom of choice in spiritual things, what would have been more easy for an omnipotent God than to lead all the inhabitants of the world to believe in the Lord? Could He not have implanted this faith in everyone, both without means and by means, without means by His absolute power and its irresistible operation, which is unceasing in its efforts to save man; or by means, through torments brought upon man's conscience, or through mortal convulsions of the body and awful threats of death, if he did not receive that faith; or still further, by the opening of hell and the presence of devils therefrom holding frightful torches in their hands, or by calling forth therefrom the dead whom they had known, in the forms of fearful specters? But to all this there is a reply in the words of Abraham to the rich man in hell,
If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:31).
500. X. IF MEN HAD NOT FREE WILL IN SPIRITUAL THINGS, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR ALL MEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD, IN A SINGLE DAY, TO BE LED TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD; BUT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, BECAUSE NOTHING REMAINS WITH A MAN BUT WHAT HE RECEIVES IN THE EXERCISE OF FREE WILL.
If God had not endowed men with free will in spiritual things He could lead all men throughout the whole world, in a single day, to believe on Him; but this is a supposition which follows from the failure to understand the nature of the Divine omnipotence. Those who do not understand the Divine omnipotence may suppose either that there is no such thing as order, or that God can act contrary to order as well as according to it; whereas creation was impossible without it. The primary end of order is that man should be an image of God; consequently that he should be perfected in love and wisdom, and thus more and more become that image. This is the purpose of God's continual operation with him; but without free will in spiritual things, by which man has the power to turn to God, and to enter into mutual conjunction with Him, it would be in vain, because impossible. For it is from and according to order that the whole world with everything belonging to it was created. For this reason God is called Order itself; so that it is the same thing whether it is said to act contrary to Divine order or contrary to God. Indeed God cannot act contrary to His own Divine order, since that would be to act contrary to Himself. He, therefore, leads all men according to order, that is, according to Himself, the wandering and the back-sliding into it, and the disobedient towards it.
If man could have been created without free will in spiritual things, what would then be more easy for omnipotent God than to lead all men throughout the whole universe to believe on the Lord? He could have conferred this faith on everyone, immediately as well as mediately; immediately by His absolute power, and by its irresistible and continual operation for man's salvation; and mediately by exciting the pangs of conscience, by deadly bodily torments and by grievous threats of death if he refused to accept it; and also by opening hell and presenting the devils with terrifying torches in their hands, or by summoning thence the dead whom he had known, in the form of frightful spectres. To this the words of Abraham to the rich man in hell are the reply:
"If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead" Luke 16:31.
500. Quod si hominibus non foret Liberum Arbitrium in spiritualibus, potuissent omnes in universo terrarum orbe intra unum diem adduci ad credendum in Dominum; sed quod hoc non fieri possit, est causa, quia id quod non ex Libero Arbitrio recipitur ab homine, non maneat.
Quod Deus absque dato hominibus Libero Arbitrio in spiritualibus posset omnes in universo terrarum orbe intra unum diem adducere ad credendum in Se, sequitur ut verum ex non intellecta Omnipotentia Divina; illi qui Omnipotentiam Divinam non intelligunt, opinari possunt, vel quod non sit ordo, vel quod Deus possit facere aeque contra ordinem, ac secundum illum, cum tamen absque ordine nulla Creatio dabilis fuit; primarium ordinis est, ut homo sit imago Dei, proinde ut perficiatur amore et sapientia, et sic plus et plus fiat illa; hoc Deus operatur continue apud hominem, sed absque Libero arbitrio in spiritualibus, per quod homo se possit convertere ad Deum, et se vicissim conjungere Ipsi, frustraneum, quia impossibile, foret, nam Ordo est, ex quo et secundum quem totus Mundus cum omnibus et singulis ejus creatus est, et quia ex illo et secundum 1 illum omnis creatio facta est, ideo Deus vocatur ipse Ordo, quare idem est, sive dixeris facere contra Divinum Ordinem, sive dixeris facere contra Deum, imo Ipse Deus non potest facere contra Divinum suum ordinem, siquidem hoc foret facere contra Se Ipsum; quare ducit omnem hominem secundum Se illum, et errantes et elapsos in illum, ac resistentes ad illum.
[2] Si homo potuisset creari absque Libero Arbitrio in spiritualibus, quid tunc Omnipotenti Deo facilius foret, quam omnes in universo terrarum Orbe adducere ad credendum in Dominum; numne potuisset cuivis inferre hanc fidem, tam immediate quam mediate, immediate per absolutam suam potentiam, et irresistibilem ejus operationem, quae continua est, ut homo salvetur; aut mediate per cruciatus conscientiae ejus injectos, per lethiferas corporis convulsiones, et graves minas mortis, si non recipit; ac insuper per apertionem inferni, et inde praesentiam diabolorum tenentium in manibus terrificas faces, aut per evocationem mortuorum, quos cognoverant, inde, sub imagine terribilium spectrorum; sed his respondetur ex verbis Abrahami ad divitem in Inferno, si Mosen et Prophetas non audiunt, nec si quis e mortuis resurrexerit, persuadebuntur, Luca 16:31.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: secumdum.