On Election
LIII. On Election
1. God is a very good elector,
for He elects to His honour
<all> good <people> who are not sinful.
2. With mercy and compassion
does God elect <certain people> to salvation
from among those who abide in sin.
3. God enjoys freedom in electing,
and, with grace and forgiveness,
elects to salvation whomsoever He wishes.
4. God elicits great wonder in us,
for thus does He wish to select us,
<namely>, by reason of giving and forgiving.
5. He who elects a wicked prelate
elects transgression and sin
and abandons virtue and goodness.
6. Whoever prefers pleasurable feelings
to virtuous loving and virtuous thoughts
has learnt little about virtuous (lit. “good”) choice.
7. In this world, man enjoys freedom
to elect virtue and goodness with God
or vice and wickedness without God.
8. He who fails to forge a friendship with God
by electing his <own> salvation,
elects to be damned alongside the enemy (i.e. the devil).
9. Being elected <to glory>
on account of <one’s> humility and <spirit of> forgiveness
is much worthier than <is> being damned on account of <one’s> pride.
10. A man of worthy habits <who is elected>
to be lord, has elected and appointed himself
so that by virtue of him <others> may enjoy great freedom.