Augustine 400 AD

“The enemy held fast mywill, and had made of it a chain, and had bound me tight with it. For out of theperverse will came lust, and the service of lust ended in habit, and habit, notresisted, became necessity. By these links, as it were, forged together–which is whyI called it “a chain”–a hard bondage held me in slavery. But that new will whichhad begun to spring up in me freely to worship thee and to enjoy thee, O my God,the only certain Joy, was not able as yet to overcome my former willfulness, madestrong by long indulgence. Thus my two wills–the old and the new, the carnal and the spiritual–were in conflict within me; and by their discord they tore my soul apart.”

“For the law of sin is the tyranny of habit, by which themind is drawn and held, even against its will. Yet it deserves to be so held becauseit so willingly falls into the habit. “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death” but thy grace alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord?”

“And now I will tell and confess unto thy name, O Lord, my helper and myredeemer, how thou didst deliver me from the chain of sexual desire by which I was so tightly held, and from the slavery of worldly business.”

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” – Romans.7:12-25

“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:34-37

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”.- Matthew 1:21