On the Spirit and the Letter

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...unless divine grace comes to our aid. Therefore [the Apostle] says: Romans 3 "Where then is your boasting? It is excluded. By what law? That of works? No, but by the law of faith." Now, if he meant that laudable boasting—which is in the Lord—is "excluded," he did not mean it was driven away so as to disappear, but rather "hammered out" so as to stand out in relief. Augustine is playing on the Latin word excludere, which can mean both "to shut out" and "to hammer out/emboss" metal. In the latter sense, "excluded" means something is made prominent or beautiful through craftsmanship. This is why certain silversmiths are called "extruders" or "chasers." exclusores: artisans who beat or hammer metal into relief From this comes that verse in the Psalms: Psalm 67 "That they may be excluded—those who have been tested like silver," In modern Bibles, this is Psalm 68:30. Augustine interprets "excluded" here as "standing out" or "being made manifest." which is to say: so that they who have been tested by the word of the Lord may stand out. For it is said elsewhere: Psalm 11 "The words of the Lord are pure words, silver tested by fire." Psalm 12:6 in modern numbering.

On the other hand, if Paul intended to mention that vicious boasting which comes from pride—the boasting of those who, because they seem to themselves to live rightly, boast as if they had not received that righteousness as a gift—he says this is "excluded" by the law of faith, meaning it is cast out and thrown away. For through the law of faith, anyone who lives well acknowledges that they hold this ability by the grace of God, and that they will not attain perfection in the love of justice from any other source.

THAT THE SOUL SHOWS PIETY

to God when it is not ungrateful,

nor is it puffed up as if it held

these free gifts from itself.

Chapter XI.

This realization makes a person pious, because piety is true wisdom. By "piety," I mean that which the Greeks call theosebeia original: "theosebian"; from the Greek theos (god) and sebomai (to worship/revere). Indeed, this was commended when it was said to man, as we read in the book of Job: Job 28 "Behold, piety is wisdom." Furthermore, if theosebeia were interpreted into Latin according to the origin of the word, it could be called "the worship of God," which is established chiefly in this: that the soul should not be ungrateful to Him. This is also why we are exhorted to give thanks to the Lord our God in that most true and unique sacrifice. A reference to the Eucharist, or "Thanksgiving," which Augustine views as the supreme act of Christian worship and gratitude. However, the soul will be ungrateful if it [attributes] to itself that which it [receives] from God...