Grace and Effort

'Quoniam multi,' inquit, 'conati sunt.' Conati utique illi sunt, qui implere nequiverunt. Ergo multos coepisse, nec implevisse, etiam sanctus Lucas testimonio locupletiore testatur, dicens plurimos esse conatos. Qui enim conatus est ordinare, suo labore conatus est, nec implevit. Sine conatu sunt enim donationes et gratia Dei, quae ubi se infuderit, rigare consuevit; ut non egeat, sed redundet scriptoris ingenium. non conatus est Matthaeus, non canatus est Marcus, non conatus est Joannes, non conatus est Lucas: sed divino Spiritu ubertatem dictorum rerumque omnium ministrante, sine ullo molimine coepta complerunt. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, Expositio Evangelii Secundum Lucam, Liber Primus

'Because many' he says 'have tried.' Certainly they have tried who have not been able to complete what they attempted. Therefore that many have begun what have not fulfilled, Saint Luke gives most bountiful witness, saying that 'many have tried.' He who has tried to set in order, who has tried with his own effort, has not completed it. But without effort are the gifts and graces of God, which when infused in one are accustomed to irrigate, that the mind of the writer overflow, not lack. Matthew did not try, Mark did not try, John did not try, Luke did not try, but with the bounty of  the Holy Spirit ministering to every word and matter, without any effort they completed their undertakings. Saint Ambrose, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Book 1