What I have to say upon this point is this: As man, before he is created man, does
nothing and endeavours nothing towards his being made a creature; and as, after he is made
and created, he does nothing and endeavours nothing towards his preservation, or towards
his continuing in his creature-existence, but each takes place alone by the will of the
omnipotent power and goodness of God, creating us and preserving us, without ourselves;
but as God, nevertheless, does not work in us without us, seeing we are for
that purpose created and preserved, that He might work in us and that we might co-operate
with Him, whether it be out of His kingdom under His general omnipotence, or in His
kingdom under the peculiar power of His Spirit; so, man, before he is regenerated
into the new creation of the kingdom of the Spirit, does nothing and endeavours nothing
towards his new creation into that kingdom, and after he is re-created does nothing and
endeavours nothing towards his perseverance in that kingdom; but the Spirit alone effects
both in us, regenerating us and preserving us when regenerated, without ourselves; as
James saith, "Of His own will begat He us by the word of His power, that we should be
a kind of first-fruits of His creatures,"—(Jas. i. 18) (where he speaks of the
renewed creation:) nevertheless, He does not work in us without us, seeing
that He has for this purpose created and preserved us, that He might operate in us, and
that we might co-operate with Him: thus, by us He preaches, shews mercy to the poor, and
comforts the afflicted.—But what is hereby attributed to "Free-will?" Nay,
what is there left it but nothing at all? And in truth it is nothing at all!
- Martin Luther (The Bondage of the Will, Section 131)
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