(33.) The Fifth Passage.151    See also his work Contra Julianum. ii. 8.

“This,” says he, “is another text of theirs: ‘Who will boast that he has a pure heart?’”152    Prov. xx. 9. And then he answered this with several passages, wishing to show that there can be in man a pure heart. But he omits to inform us how the passage which he reported as quoted against himself must be taken, so as to prevent Holy Scripture seeming to be opposed to itself in this text, and in the passages by which he makes his answer. We for our part indeed tell him, in answer, that the clause, “Who will boast that he has a pure heart?” is a suitable sequel to the preceding sentence, “whenever a righteous king sits upon the throne.”153    Prov. xx. 8. For how great soever ever a man’s righteousness may be, he ought to reflect and think, lest there should be found something blameworthy, which has escaped indeed his own notice, when that righteous King shall sit upon His throne, whose cognizance no sins can possibly escape, not even those of which it is said, “Who understandeth his transgressions?”154    Ps. xix. 12. “When, therefore, the righteous King shall sit upon His throne, . . . who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sin?”155    Prov. xx. 8, 9. Except perhaps those who wish to boast of their own righteousness, and not glory in the mercy of the Judge Himself.

CAPUT XV.

33. «Item dicunt,» inquit, «Quis gloriabitur castum se habere cor?» Et ad hoc respondit multis testimoniis, volens ostendere posse esse in homine castum cor: nec tamen dicit quomodo accipiendum sit, quod proposuit contra se dici, Quis gloriabitur castum se habere cor, ne Scriptura divina in hoc testimonio, et in his per quae respondit, sibi ipsa adversaria videatur. Nos autem huic respondentes dicimus, ideo secutum esse, Quis gloriabitur castum se habere cor? quoniam praecessit, Cum rex justus sederit in throno. Quantalibet enim justitia sit praeditus homo, cogitare debet, ne aliquid in illo, quod ipse non videt, inveniatur esse culpandum, cum rex justus sederit in throno, cujus cognitionem fugere delicta non possunt, nec illa de quibus dictum est, Delicta quis intelligit (Psal. XVIII, 13)? Cum ergo rex justus sederit in throno, quis gloriabitur castum se habere cor? aut quis gloriabitur mundum se esse a peccato (Prov. XX, 8, 9)? Nisi forte isti, qui volunt in sua justitia, non in ipsius judicis misericordia gloriari.