There are many passages in Augustine, as to the utility of the law in
leading us to implore Divine assistance:
Thus he writes to Hilary, "The
law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered and so
feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of
grace."
In like manner, he writes to Asellius, "The utility of the law
is, that it convinces man of his weakness, and compels him to apply for
the medicine of grace, which is in Christ."
In like manner, he says to
Innocentius Romanus, "The law orders; grace supplies the power of
acting."
Again, to Valentinus, "God enjoins what we cannot do, in order
that we may know what we have to ask of him."
Again, "The law was given,
that it might make you guilty - being made guilty might fear; fearing,
might ask indulgence, not presume on your own strength."
Again, "The law
was given, in order to convert a great into a little man - to show that
you have no power of your own for righteousness; and might thus, poor,
needy, and destitute, flee to grace."
He afterwards thus addresses the
Almighty, "So do, O Lord, so do, O merciful Lord; command what cannot be
fulfilled; nay, command what cannot be fulfilled, unless by thy own
grace: so that when men feel they have no strength in themselves to
fulfil it, every mouth may be stopped, and no man seem great in his own
eyes. Let all be little ones; let the whole world become guilty before
God."
- John Calvin (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.7.9)
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