Atticus: The Savior is comforted in His agony by an
angel, and my Critobulus, having the power of free will, does not need the help
of God! The Savior prayed so earnestly that drops of blood gushed forth, which
He was about to pour out completely in His passion. “Why do you sleep?” He
says, “Rise up and pray that you do not enter into temptation!” According to
your view He ought to have said: “Why do you sleep? Rise up and struggle, for
you have free will, and once that power has been given you by the Lord, you
need the help of no one else. For if you do this, you will not enter into
temptation!” (Jerome, Dialogue Against the Pelagians 2.16, A.D. 415, The
Faith of the Early Fathers, 3 vols. [trans. William A. Jurgens;
Collegeville, Minn.: The Liturgical Press, 1979], 2:210-11)
