[Kolokotronis]

“I would suggest this most likely is from one of Augustine’s earlier sermons.”

Actually its from the later, middle period and was not retracted at the end of his life.

HD, I’m always glad to see that someone is reading the Fathers! But try not to proof-text them, HD. Western Protestant exegesis doesn’t work well at all with the Fathers. They say all sorts of things. +John Chrysostomos himself opined that the Most Holy Theotokos sinned. Consensus patrum, HD, consensus patrum, otherwise reading the Fathers is simply an exercise in looking for self confirmation.

[HarleyD]

Actually its from the later, middle period and was not retracted at the end of his life.

Obviously you did not read the excellent article by Knapp in post #7655 on Augustine and Owen On Perseverance. Knapp specifically addresses your concerns on blasphemy and Augustine (footnotes are located in the article):

The harmony between this assertion and the conviction mentioned above concerning the elects’ certainty of perseverance is found in the distinctions the two authors make between those who receive the gift of perseverance and those who do not. Augustine speaks of the church as those who are believers, some of whom receive the gift of perseverance, continue on as Christians to the end, and are ultimately saved, and some of whom do not receive the gift of perseverance and are accounted as part of the reprobate: those who do not persevere “are not made to differ from that lump which it is plain is condemned, as all go from one into condemnation.” Augustine is clear that this condemnation is reserved even for those who “having heard the gospel and been changed by it for the better, [yet] have not received perseverance.” Augustine does not deny that those who do not persevere have been touched by God—indeed, his description of these people who ultimately will perish is surprising. He consistently refers to them as “believers” and notes that they were “called” by God; they are described as “those whom He gave love by which they might live Christianly,” “some of His own children—whom He has regenerated in Christ—to whom he has given faith, hope, and love,” and “renewed by the laver of regeneration.” Nevertheless, they are actually “children of perdition” and God knows this for he has not elected them.

Augustine elaborates on this notion by distinguishing between those believers who have been called, and those who have been “called according to the purpose,” i.e., the elect. Those given the gift of perseverance “were not so called as not to be elected, in respect of which it is said, ‘for many are called but few are elected;’ but because they were called according to the purpose, they are of a certainty also elected by the election, as it is said, of grace.” In speaking of those who will certainly persevere, Augustine notes:

they are elected because they were called according to the purpose—the purpose, however, not their own, but God’s… . For whoever are elected are without doubt also called; but not whosoever are called are as a consequence elected. Those, then, are elected, as has often been said, who are called according to the purpose, who also are predestinated and foreknown.

This distinction is important to Augustine, and continues to play an important role in his explanation of both the doctrine of perseverance and the experience of some believers who fall away. Thus, some people appear elect to our eyes, even receiving much grace in this life. Yet, their ultimate failure to persevere demonstrates that they are not one of the elect.

HD, I’m always glad to see that someone is reading the Fathers! But try not to proof-text them, HD. Western Protestant exegesis doesn’t work well at all with the Fathers.

LOL!!! I will acknowledge that the early church fathers were in the formulation period of doctrinal development. Mostly they were concerned with stamping out heresy that was springing up around them or warding off the pagan influences. Consequently some of their beliefs were skewed to suppositions without careful study or tainted by pagan customs.

However the East and West pick and choose what church father's writings to accept. In the case of perseverance, there is overwhelming evidence the early church fathers wrote extensively about this subject and agreed that, if chosen by God people will persevere. This just simply does not fit the Orthodox/Catholic doctrinal belief which tries to get people to go to church to receive grace, so it's discarded. It's far more enjoyable to read about the Eucharist. Yet it was the fathers position that if a person was saved they would WANT to attend mass. It wasn't the other way around that you needed to attend mass to be saved.

They say all sorts of things. +John Chrysostomos himself opined that the Most Holy Theotokos sinned.

Well, fancy that. You don't suppose he was referring to:

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

But then there's another church father that probably was wrong. ;O)