408 “This word is scarcely used in modern English, except as expressing that punishment which is fully deserved, a usage originating with the Tudor Parliaments; but it was once commonly used in the language in a wider sense, for whatever had been justly earned, and some attempts to revive it have been made in recent times; certainly some word is wanted to express the idea.” (Hunter, _Outlines of Dogmatic Theology_, Vol. III, pp. 58 sq.) Cfr. Dr. Murray’s _New English Dictionary_, Vol. II, p. 784, Oxford 1893. 409 Eck did not, however, approve the term _meritum de condigno_; he preferred _meritum digni_. Cfr. J. Greving, _Johann Eck als junger Gelehrter_, pp. 153 sqq., Münster 1906. 410 Cfr. St. Augustine, _In Ps._, 86: “_Debitorem Deus ipse fecit se, non accipiendo, sed promittendo._” On this point consult Pohle-Preuss, _God: His Knowability, Essence, and Attributes,_ pp. 455 sqq. _ 411 Oratio, preces._ _ 412 Capacitas, dispositio._ 413 Vasquez, _Comment. in S. Theol. S. Thomae Aquin._, 1a 2ae, disp. 216, c. 4. 414 Already in the fourth century the Church emphasized the proposition “_Gratiam Christi non secundum merita dari_” against Pelagius. 415 Cfr. St. Augustine, _Ep._ 194 _ad Sixt._, n. 19: ___Vita etiam aeterna, quam certum est bonis operibus debitam reddi, ab Apostolo tamen gratia nuncupatur, nec ideo quia meritis non datur, sed quia data sunt ipsa merita, quibus datur.___ The dogma was formally defined by the Council of Trent: “... _cuius tanta est erga omnes homines bonitas, ut eorum velit esse merita, quae sunt ipsius dona._” (Sess. VI, cap. 16, quoted in Denzinger-Bannwart’s _Enchiridion_, n. 809.) 416 For further information on this point see Palmieri, _De Gratia Divina Actuali,_ thes. 35. _ 417 V. supra_, pp. 83 sqq. 418 “_Gratiam Dei secundum merita nostra dari._” 419 “_Debetur merces bonis operibus, si fiant; sed gratia quae non debetur praecedit, ut fiant._” (Arausic. II, can. 18; see Denzinger-Bannwart, n. 191.) 420 “... _ipsius iustificationis exordium in adultis a Dei per Christum Iesum praeveniente gratia sumendum esse, h. e. ab eius vocatione, quâ nullis eorum existentibus meritis vocantur._” (Sess. VI, cap. 5. Denzinger-Bannwart, n. 797.) 421 Rom. IX, 16: “_Igitur non volentis neque currentis, sed miserentis est Dei._” 422 Rom. IX, 18: “_Ergo cuius vult miseretur et quem vult indurat_ (ἄρα οὖν θέλει δ᾽ δε θέλει σκληρύνει.”) 423 Rom. XI, 6: “_Si autem gratiâ, iam non ex operibus_ (ἐξ ἔργων), _alioquin gratia iam non est gratia._”