Persecution and Freewill

One reason Augustine rejected freewill in most respects is that he wanted to use the law of the land to compel/persecute people into becoming Catholic.

If people became Christians under duress of legal persecution then it wasn't wholly by freewill.

He could not adopt freewill and Catholic  Canon law at the same time, they were mutually exclusive.

The Christian doctrine of allowing Christ to punish evil at the judgment of the world, would mean their punishment would not be used to persecute non-Christians in this life. If they were to become Christians, no current legal duress would be used.

(Christ specifically said not to gather up the tares before the judgment, and commanded to let the good and bad grow together.)

Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Augustines doctrine of weeding out people who failed to comply with Catholic law was against Christ's will. Jesus believed more harm than good would come from persecuting non-Christians or false Christians.

Jesus was wiser than Augustine, because Catholic persecution of non-Catholics in Northern Africa eventually led to a Muslim revolt and the moslum conquest of Africa, which still effects evangelization today.