28. The saints ascribe their good things not to themselves, but to God. Some, while they grow in age, decrease from innocence. — For compassion, even if it were of his own choice that it should grow with him, yet it is clear that it was not of his choice that it should come forth with him from the womb. It is established therefore that he ascribes nothing to his own virtue, who assuredly testifies that he received this from the gift of his condition. That good therefore which he intimates he had from his condition, without doubt it is clear that he narrates it to the praise of the Creator, indicating that he received from Him that he should be pious, from whom he received that he should be at all; because, just as by his own work he was not fashioned in the womb, so neither by his own virtue was he pious from the womb. But we must weigh what he asserts: 'It grew up with me.'
For some, in proportion as they grow in age, decrease from innocence. But in the elect, while outwardly the age of the body grows, inwardly, if it may be so said, the age of virtue grows. It follows: