Possibly the easiest way to draw out the reformers thinking on these points is by drawing attention to the Heidelberg Catechism. The question admits to general depravity, admits that people as a whole are not good. Again, this is distinctly Augustinianism as opposed to Pelagianism. According to Pelagius only Adam fell into sin, but Augustinianism and Reformation theology teaches that we all sinned in Adam with the consequence that our nature became corrupt. Semi-Pelagians would answer, man is corrupt but not so corrupt that he is unable to do any good.
Man is sick.
In fact, the Heidelberg Catechism says, man is so corrupt that he can do no good unless God work on him through his Holy Spirit. Semi-Pelagians would not dispute that man s righteousness is attained by true faith, but man must first decide if he wants this faith. The Augustinian language here adopted by the reformers is not a language of sickness but of deadness. Since a dead person can do nothing, let alone will anything, faith cannot be a choice of man. Without me requesting it, God imputed to me what was Christ s.