Augustine: Earlier Writings
On Free Will
Augustine's Review of the ''De Libero Arbitrio,^^
Retractations, /, ix
I . AVhile we were still delayed at Rome we determined to discuss the question of the origin of e\'il. The principle on which the discussion was to proceed was this. We were to try if possible to let rational argument, so far as we could with God's help in our discussion, demonstrate to our intellects what we already believed about the matter on divine authority. After careful reasoning we agreed that evil has no other origin than in the free choice of the will. So the three books which the discussion produced are called Of Free ]VilL Of these I completed Books II and III in Africa after I had been ordained presbyter at Hippo-regius, using such opportunity as I then could command.
2. In these books many things are discussed. Several questions arose which I could not solve or which required lengthy treatment. They were so broadly handled in their pros and cons that, either way, even when it was not quite clear where the truth lay, our reasoning led to this conclusion: Whatever be true in these difficult matters, it is to be beheved, or indeed it is demonstrated, that God is to be praised. The disputation was undertaken on account of those who deny that evil derives its origin from the free choice of the will and who contend accordingly that God the Creator of all things is to be blamed. In this way, following their impious error (for they are Manichees), they seek to introduce an evil nature, unchangeable and coeternal with God. Because this was the subject we proposed to debate, there is no discussion in these books of the grace of God whereby he has predestined his elect and himself prepares the wills of those among them who make use of their freedom of choice. But wheiever an occasion occurs to make mention of this grace it is mentioned in passing, not laboriously defended