209 This must be kept in mind in judging Ripalda’s famous thesis: “_Ad quodlibet bonum opus morale sive ad quemlibet virtutis moralis actum necessarium esse per se naturae rationali elevatae auxilium theologicum gratiae._” (_Ibid._, sect. 3.) 210 He urges the supernatural character, in principle, of the present economy of salvation; the practical identity of the naturally good with the supernaturally salutary acts of the will, which he claims is taught in Sacred Scripture (cfr. Acts XIV, 14 sqq.; Rom. I, 19 sqq.), and also by St. Augustine and his disciples Prosper and Orosius; the merciful dispensation of grace towards heathens, unbelievers, and sinners (_v. infra_, Sect. 3, Art. 2); the universal belief of Christians in the salutary effects of all good works, including those of the purely natural order, etc. For a discussion of these arguments consult Palmieri, _De Gratia Divina Actuali_, pp. 254 sqq. _ 211 Synopsis de Gratia_, n. 530. _ 212 Praelect. Dogmat._, Vol. V, p. 72. _ 213 De Virtute Fidei Divinae_, disp. 12, sect. 2. _ 214 Instit. Theolog._, Vol. III, pp. 22 sq., 248 sqq. _ 215 De Gratia Div. Actuali_, p. 268: “_Si tamen ad solos fideles coarctetur, quum nulla argumenta obstent et pro hac hypothesi maxime valeant rationes Ripaldae, eam censemus veram esse._” _ 216 V. supra_, No. 1. 217 Cfr. Mazzella, _De Gratia Christi_, disp. 2, art. 9. _ 218 V. supra_, p. 71. 219 “_Fides late dicta ex testimonio creaturarum similive motivo ad iustificationem sufficit._” (Denzinger-Bannwart, n. 1173.) _ 220 Conc. Vat._, Sess. III, De Fide, can. 2: “_Si quis dixerit, ... ad fidem divinam non requiri, ut revelata veritas propter auctoritatem Dei revelantis credatur, anathema sit._” On this whole dispute cfr. Schiffini, _De Gratia Divina_, pp. 156 sqq. The arguments adduced by the defenders of Ripalda’s opinion can be studied in Palmieri, _De Gratia Divina Actuali_, pp. 265 sqq. Cfr. also Scheeben, _Dogmatik_, Vol. III, pp. 996 sqq. A difficulty arises from the twenty-second canon of the Second Council of Orange (A. D. 529): “_Nemo habet de suo nisi mendacium et peccatum._” But this canon was probably never approved by the Holy See. It is ably discussed by Gutberlet in his continuation of Heinrich’s _Dogmatische Theologie_, Vol. VIII, § 415. 221 “_Ex viribus suis [natura] coram Deo nihil nisi peccare potest._” (_Solida Declar._, I, § 22.) Cfr. J. A. Möhler, _Symbolik_, § 6-7 (English tr. by J. B. Robertson, _Symbolism_, 5th ed., London 1906, pp. 54 sqq.) _ 222 Conc. Trid._, Sess. VI, can. 7: “_Si quis dixerit, opera omnia, quae ante iustificationem fiunt, ... vere esse peccata, ... anathema sit._” 223 Cfr. Pohle-Preuss, _God the Author of Nature and the Supernatural_, pp. 183 sqq., _et passim_.