Canon CXIII. (Greek
cxiiii.)
That without the grace of God we can do no good
thing.
It
seemed good that whosoever
should say that the grace of justification was given to us only that we
might be able more readily by grace to perform what we were ordered to
do through our free will; as if though grace was not given, although
not easily, yet nevertheless we could even without grace fulfil the
divine commandments, let him be anathema. For the Lord spake
concerning the fruits of the commandments, when he said:
“Without me ye can do nothing,” and not “Without me
ye could do it but with difficulty.”
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
CXIII.
Whoso preaches that without grace we could keep the
commandments although with difficulty, is to be thrice execrated.
For the Lord says, “Without me ye can do nothing.”
This is Canon V. of Carthage,
a.d.
418.