The End And Perfection

Certe qui in cursu est, et in via graditur, minor est eo qui pervenit ad finem. Si ergo immaculatus est ille atque perfectus, qui adhuc ambulat in via, et graditur in lege, quid plus habebit ille, qui ad terminum viae legisque pervenit? Unde et Apostolus de Domino loquitur, quod in fine mundi, et in consummatione virtutum exhibeat sibi sanctam Ecclesiam, non habentem macula, neque rugam, quam vos putatis jam in ista carne mortali et corruptibili esse perfectam, et audire meremini cum Corinthiis: Jam perfecti estis, jam divites facti estis, sine nobis regnatis, atque utinam regnaretis, ut et nos regnaremus vobiscum: cum vera et absque omni sorde perfectio in coelestibus reservetur, quando sponsus loquetur ad sponsam: Tota pulchra es, anima mea, et macula non est in te. Juxta quod et illud intelligitur: Ut sitis irreprehensibiles et simplices sicut filii Dei immaculati: quod non dixerit estis, sed sitis, in futuram differens, non in praesenti esse contestans, ut hic labour sit aque contentio, ibi laboris virtutisque praemia. Denqiue Joannes scribit: Dilectissimi, filii Dei sumus, et nondum apparuit quid erimus. Scimus, quia cum apparuerit, similes ei erimus, quoniam eum videbimus sicuti est. Quamquam ergo filii Dei simus, tamen similitudo Dei, et vera contemplatio, tunc nobis repromittitur, quando apparuerit in claritate sua. Sanctus Hieronymous, Dialogus Adversus Pelagianos, Liber III Source: Migne PL 23.583a-c

Surely he who is on the course and advancing on the way is inferior to him who has reached the end. If, then, he is unspotted and perfect who is yet walking in the way and advancing in the law, what more shall he have who has come to the end of life and of the law? Whence the Apostle, speaking of our Lord, says that at the end of the world, in the consummation of the virtues, He will present His holy Church to Himself without spot or wrinkle, 1 which you think is perfect now in this mortal flesh and corruption, you who merit to be hear with the Corinthians, 'Already you are perfect, already you have been made rich, you reign without us, and that you did reign, that we might also reign with you,' 2 since true and pure perfection is reserved for those in heaven, when the groom shall say to the bride, 'You are all fair, my soul, and there is no spot in you.' 3 In this sense it it is understood: 'That you may be blameless and harmless, as children of God, without blemish.' 4 For He did not say you are, but may be, making a distinction for the future, not arguing it for the present. So here is toil and effort and there are the rewards of labour and virtue. Lastly, John writes, 'Beloved, we are sons of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.' 5 Therefore, although we are sons of God, yet likeness to God and true contemplation is promised us when He shall appear in His glory. Saint Jerome, Dialogue Against the Pelagians, Book 3 1 Ephes 5.27 2 1 Cor 4.8 3 Song 4.7 4 Philip 2.15 5 1 Jn 3.2