The Literal Meaning of Genesis (continued)
nence; but because of this good that evil becomes allowable (veniale).34 For what is good in marriage and that by which marriages are good can never be a sin.
Now this good is threefold: fidelity, offspring, and sacrament.35 Fidelity means that there must be no relations with any other person outside the marriage bond. Offspring means that children are to be lovingly received, brought up with tender care, and given a religious education. Sacrament means that the marriage bond is not to be broken, and that if one partner ina marriage should be abandoned by the other, neither may enter a new marriage even for the sake of having children. This is what may be called the rule of marriage: by it the fertility of nature is made honorable and the disorder of concupiscence is regulated.
Hence, since I have discussed this subject at length in the book I recently published called The Good of Marriage,*® in which I distinguished the continence of widowhood and the excellence of virginity according to the honor of these two states, there is no need to treat this matter further in this book.
CHAPTER 8
In the attempt to avoid evil it is difficult not to fall into the opposite vice.
13. We now ask what help the woman could give the man if they were not allowed intercourse in Paradise for the purpose of begetting children. Those who have this problem perhaps suppose that all union of the sexes is sinful. For it is difficult for people who try to avoid certain vices not to rush quickly in a misguided way into their contraries. Thus, a person dreading avarice becomes prodigal, and dreading extravagance becomes avaricious. A man becomes restless if you blame him for indolence; or indolent if you blame him for restlessness. He who has been reprehended for his boldness and has come to detest it takes refuge in timidity; he who tries not to be too timid rids himself of restraint and becomes rash, and thus evil deeds are